PPSC forms board of inquiry to probe PNP Academy mauling incident

A board of inquiry that will investigate the mauling incident inside the Philippine National Police Academy has already been formed, Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) president Ricardo de Leon said Wednesday.

The board of inquiry will be led by National Police College director Romeo Magsalos as chairman and PPSC Inspectorate and Legal Office chief lawyer Jason Ison as vice chairman.

Members of the board is composed of Superintendent Russel Maca, Superintendent David Joy Duarte and Chief Inspector Ronilo Sonio with Cynthia Dionco as the secretary.

Aside from this, De Leon said the board of inquiry will also probe on the alleged hazing video in 2017 which was also done inside the PNPA.

Results of the investigation is expected to be released on April 2, according to De Leon.

Six new PNPA graduates were beaten-up by their underclassmen right after their graduation rites attended by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 21. The incident occurred between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. when the upperclassmen were going back to their barracks after the graduation rites.

The underclassmen even used rattan sticks and rocks when they mauled the newly-commissioned officers who suffered injuries.

In a police report from Silang Municipal Police Station, the victims were identified as Police Inspectors Ylam Lambenecio, Arjay Divino, Mark Kevin Villares, Floyd Traqueña, Jan Paul Magmoyao and Jail Inspector Arjay Marcaida Cuasay.

Lambenecio and Divino have already filed a case of physical injury against their nine underclassmen.

Nine of the underclassmen who inflicted injuries were identified by witnesses as: Cadet 2nd Class Donald Ramirez Kissing, Cadet 2nd Class Delos Santos, Cadet 2nd Class Jem Camcam Peralta, Cadet 2nd Class Clint John Baguidodol, Cadet 2nd Class Christopher De Guzman Macalalad; Cadet 2nd Class Loreto Aquino Tuliao Jr., Cadet 2nd Class Calamba, Cadet 2nd Class Coplat and Cadet 2nd Class Amanon.

Based on PNPA's initial investigation, PNPA director Chief Superintendent Joseph Adnol said the underclassmen may have wanted to "get even" with the upperclassmen.

"Ang lumalabas itong mga upperclass na ito sila yung mga strict in the implementation ng mga policies and of course sila yung laging namumuno don if there are violations," he said. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News