Suspect in fatal hazing charged

SILANG, Cavite — Police have charged a cadet of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) with homicide for the death of a fellow cadet in hazing rites Sunday night.

Chief Inspector Conrado Gongon, this town’s police chief, said the charges against Cadet Third Class Jomari Polquiso, 23, were based on the testimonies of at least six fourth class cadets who, along with the victim, Cadet Fourth Class Jeoffrey Andawi, suffered hazing in the hands of the suspect.

The hazing took place inside a comfort room at the third floor of the PNPA’s new academic building at Camp Castañeda in Barangay Tartaria here.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina ordered yesterday a wider inquiry into the fatal hazing to pinpoint PNPA officials who might have been remiss in their duties in ensuring compliance with the anti-hazing law.

He issued the directive to Chief Superintendent Ramsey Ocampo, president of the Philippine Public Safety College. He gave Ocampo and PNPA officials one week to submit their reports.

"This is a senseless killing. I want those involved to be punished accordingly," Lina said.

Gongon identified the six cadet-witnesses as Christopher Diston, Neil Wadingan, Maximo Sumeg-Ang Jr., Martadio Bongngat, Kenneth Balisang and Rey Cayap Tad-O, who all hail from the Cordillera Administrative Region.

They said Polquiso gathered them at the comfort room to discuss their behavior during a courtesy call in Baguio City during the Christmas break.

The cadets said Polquiso hit them twice on each palm with the wooden handle of a floor mop. He also allegedly punched Andawi on the chest and abdomen.

They recounted that Andawi grimaced in pain. Touching his abdomen, he went to the urinal and unzipped his pants but suddenly fell unconscious.