PNP chief Bato says hazing in academy made him tough

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Monday admitted that hazing has been part of the culture in the academy, saying that such practice had disciplined him and made him tough.

While the country's top cop said they "abhor" hazing as it promotes a "culture of violence," Dela Rosa underscored that the context of how it transpired should also be looked into.

"Titingnan natin yung context, is it really per se manhandling 'yon, there was physical contact dahil nga pinapalo but yung context kung parang celebratory, parang masaya sila, parang cariño brutal on their part, para bang nagtatawanan naman sila diba," Dela Rosa said at a press briefing in Camp Crame.

Dela Rosa is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986.

Dela Rosa issued the remark after he was asked to comment on a footage that showed that PNP Academy (PNPA) cadets were seen to be taking turns on hitting the palms and paddling other cadets.

The incident happened in February 2017.

"Part of the culture na 'yan, ako I don't have to deny that, very hard yung evidence, I don't have to defend that but I just want to put everything in its proper context," he said.

"Again, hindi ko jinujustify yung hazing porket dinaanan ko na 'yan, natapos ako ng four years na bugbugan sa academy...Coming from me, I must tell you, yung lahat ng pinagdaanan ko na paghihirap, diyan ako naging disiplanado at [kaya] ako naging ganito ngayon...Sometimes, I'm very tough and sometimes I'm very soft, because of the training," he added.

Asked on whether if such practice would also be experienced by his son, Rock, who is now a cadet in the PNPA, Dela Rosa said: "If that if will make my son more of a man, 'yung mga na-experience niyang ganon, well I have to accept it kung 'yan ang kasama sa training nila."

"But for me to say na legal 'yan, authorized 'yan, hindi ko masabi 'yan, that's crime, that's physical injury," he added.

Six new PNPA graduates were beaten-up by their underclassmen right after their graduation rites attended by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 21. The incident occurred between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. when the upperclassmen were going back to their barracks after the graduation rites.

The underclassmen even used rattan sticks and rocks when they mauled the newly-commissioned officers who suffered injuries.

In a police report from Silang Municipal Police Station, the victims were identified as Police Inspectors Ylam Lambenecio, Arjay Divino, Mark Kevin Villares, Floyd Traqueña, Jan Paul Magmoyao and Jail Inspector Arjay Marcaida Cuasay.

Lambenecio and Divino have already filed a case of physical injury against their nine underclassmen.

Nine of the underclassmen who inflicted injuries were identified by witnesses as: Cadet 2nd Class Donald Ramirez Kissing, Cadet 2nd Class Delos Santos, Cadet 2nd Class Jem Camcam Peralta, Cadet 2nd Class Clint John Baguidodol, Cadet 2nd Class Christopher De Guzman Macalalad; Cadet 2nd Class Loreto Aquino Tuliao Jr., Cadet 2nd Class Calamba, Cadet 2nd Class Coplat and Cadet 2nd Class Amanon.

Based on PNPA's initial investigation, PNPA director Chief Superintendent Joseph Adnol said the underclassmen may have wanted to "get even" with the upperclassmen. — RSJ, GMA News