THE Philippine National Police said criminal and administrative charges would be filed against nine police academy cadets for mauling six new graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy after their graduation last week.
The National Police Commission also threatened to dismiss the mauling suspects if they are found guilty, even as two of the victims filed criminal charges against their lower classmen.
PNPA officials identified the suspects as Cadet 2nd Class Donald Ramirez Kissing, Jem Camcam Peralta, Clint John Baguidodol, Paul Christopher Macalalad, and Loreto Aquino Tulao Jr. The other four suspects were identified through their surnames as Cadet 2nd Class Delos Santos, Calamba, Coplat and Amanon.
Based on an initial investigation by the Silang police, the mauling victims, all with the rank of police inspector, were Ylam Buaquen Lambenecio, Arjay Masangkay Divino, Mark Kevin Rellores Villares, Floyd Quinaquin Traquena, Jan Paul Dalapus Magmoyao and Arjay Marcaida Cuasay, all of the Maragtas Class of 2018.
PNPA Director Chief Supt. Joseph Adnol said witnesses said the victims sustained head injuries.
Adnol said 20 more cadets will face administrative charges for their alleged complicity in the mauling, even as PNP Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa vowed to stop the “tradition” among PNPA cadets to get even with their upper classmen.
“My reaction is that kind of tradition is not good. It’s sad to say, it promotes cycle of violence,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said underclassmen mauling their seniors after graduation has been “on and off tradition,” as he talked to Gen. Ricardo de Leon, Philippine Public Safety College director that has supervision over the PNPA and the PNPA Alumni Association to stop the practice.
The incident prompted PNPA director Adnol to offer his resignation to Dela Rosa, but he turned it down.
Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said the cadets involved in the mauling incident have no reason to continue training if they would be proven guilty.
Investigation showed that the cadets were reportedly angry at their seniors for imposing strict policies on them.
Four days after the incident, two of the victims executed complaint affidavits before the Silang Municipal Court for criminal cases against the respondents.
“We cannot stop the complainants from filing criminal charges against the suspects. If they really want to do that because that is their right,” Dela Rosa said.
Casurao also denied that Dela Rosa’s son Rock, who is part of the PNPA Class of 2019, was involved in the mauling case.