9 more cops probed for hazing

MANILA, Philippines - Two police captains and seven more rookie policemen were added to the list of police personnel placed under investigation for maltreatment and hazing of police trainees in Los Baños, Laguna.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has placed Senior Inspectors Leopoldo Ferre Jr. and Klinto Rex Jamorol under investigation over the video-documented hazing of trainees undergoing the Special Counter-Insurgency Operation Unit Training (SCOUT) Course in Laguna in 2010.

“Actions like this do not have any place in the PNP where respect for human rights and the rule of law is a command policy that every PNP member is duty-bound to uphold,” Bacalzo said.

Ferre was the commanding officer of the 1st Maneuver Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion of Calabarzon, while Jamorol was the SCOUT course director. They have been relieved from their present assignments pending the probe.

Also being probed are PO1s Randy Nabayra, Jodgi Vergara, Ezel Papa, Ramil de Guzman, Arnel Yadis, Alberto Umali, and Crisanto Victorio.

Earlier, eight other rookie policemen were placed under restrictive custody, namely PO1s Roque Oro, Rovylyn Addatu, Evan Mark Cuartero, Marfe Adler, Jhun Plonelo, Allan Pascua, Melvin Malihan, and Troy Sumayod. – With Ed Amoroso, Rhodina Villanueva