5 police trainees beat up laborer in Quezon

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Five trainees at the Philippine National Police Regional Training Center 4A in Tayabas City, Quezon allegedly beat up a construction worker last week, according to the PNP.

Ernani Peñero, 27, told the Tayabas City Police Station that police trainees Ariel Bonggaling Jr., Airick Joshua Magabo, Edgar Isaac Magdaluyo, Dennis de Ocampo and Mark Laparan took turns hitting him at 11 p.m. on June 22.

Peñero reported to investigators that he was on his way to a store in Barangay Anos when Bonggaling allegedly asked him for a lighter.

When he replied that he didn’t have one and that he doesn’t smoke, Bonggaling reportedly got irked and punched him on the head.

The other four trainees took turns kicking him, Peñero said.

The five trainees are among 400 police aspirants in the ongoing six-month academic and physical fitness course at the PNP training center.