8 cops relieved as PNP probes Calabarzon hazing incident

Eight police non-commissioned officers were relieved from their posts for their alleged involvement in a hazing incident in the Calabarzon region. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said he has ordered a "full-dress" investigation on the incident as he appointed Calabarzon regional police director Chief Superintendent Gil Meneses to lead the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) that will probe the incident. The investigation stemmed from a series of video clips presented by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to the PNP showing police officers hurting police trainees who were undergoing the Special Counter-Insurgency Operation Unit Training. Aside from the SITG, the PNP's Internal Affairs Service and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will also be holding a "parallel administrative and criminal investigation." It was not immediately clear when and in which province the alleged hazing incident happened. Just the same, Bacalzo said the video clips "speak for itself and clearly establishes the culpability of those involved." "Actions like this do not have any place in the PNP where respect for human rights and the rule of law is a policy," he said. Relieved from their posts were: