PNP: 57 cops now facing charges over alleged hazing incident in Basilan

A total of 57 police officers are now facing criminal complaints for allegedly hazing newly deployed cops in Lamitan, Basilan, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

At a press briefing Friday, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said complaints in violation of the anti-hazing law were filed against three more suspects.

“Meron pong nadagdag na tatlong patrolman na nakasuhan po ngayong araw. So umaabot na po from 54, 57 ang nakasuhan,” Tuaño said.

(There were three more patrolmen charged today. So the total number of people charged now goes from 54 to 57.)

Of the 54 cops who are initially ordered to be placed under restrictive custody, Tuaño said only 12 have been accounted for so far.

The involved cops belong to the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14-B.

The PNP official warned that implicated cops who fail to report in the next 24 hours would be considered as absent without official leave or AWOL.

On January 5, an alleged hazing incident happened during the “welcome rites” for the fresh batch of police officers deployed to Lamitan town.

A video showed the newly deployed cops in Lamitan, Basilan receiving blows to the face, punches, and flicks from their fellow policemen.

Around 70 cops have been relieved from their posts following the incident. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News