BICOL police investigators yesterday filed charges against 21 PNP personnel involved in the recent hazing death of a policeman in Masbate.
The suspects, all members of the 503rd Maneuver Company of the PNP’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion 5, were charged before the Masbate Prosecutors Office with violation of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.
The Bicol regional police office said the accused policemen, who were not identified, have been relieved and are currently under PNP custody in Camp Ola in Legazpi City.
They are also facing administrative charges for grave misconduct before the Internal Affairs Service- Bicol region.
“Said law (anti-hazing law) explicitly states that ‘no physical violence be employed by anybody during such initiation rites’ which were violated by suspects,” the Bicol regional police said in a statement.
“Penalties if proven guilty for the commission of the crime are reclusion perpetua (20 to 40 years imprisonment) with corresponding fines,” it added.
The fatality, Patrolman Jaypee De Guzman, collapsed during a road run inside the company headquarters in Masbate last July 22. He was assigned to the company last July 8.
De Guzman was brought to the Ticao District Hospital after collapsing but was released later that day, the Bicol regional police office said. He died four days later.
Police said post mortem examination showed De Guzman suffered cardiorespiratory arrest, deep vein thrombosis secondary to pulmonary embolism, and multiple physical injuries secondary to blunt trauma.
“He also sustained severe bruises, burns on his chest, wounds on his knees and feet and other injuries on his body that caused his death on July 26,” the Bicol regional police office said.
It asked policemen who have been subjected to hazing to come forward to put a stop to such incidents in the future.
“This unit also encourages other personnel who have experienced the same to speak out and their voices be heard,” it said.
“PRO (Police Regional Office) 5 aims not only to serve justice to the victims but also to end these derogative and offensive initiation rites,” it added.
