PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 1, announced the impending expulsion from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) of the three cadets accused of forcing two freshmen to perform oral sex.
Irked by the allegedly "sexualized" initiation of the two PNPA freshmen, the President said the erring police cadets who "dehumanize" people do not deserve to stay in the police service.
Duterte said he would not tolerate any unlawful hazing at the PNPA, stressing that the mandate of a uniformed policeman is to "protect and preserve the nation and to protect the people."
"That's about it. Ito ngayon (Now, the bottomline is), I was reading a report kasi sa aking office (from my office) about that incident of the police [involved in inhumane hazing]," Duterte said in a situation briefing on the onslaught of Typhoon Rosita in Isabela.
"I’m warning you, I will never tolerate that kind yung (of) hazing. Pinakain nila yung ari nila doon sa (They had oral sex as punishment for freshmen). They will be dismissed. I will dismiss them. I have no place for those people," he added.
A recent sex scandal rocked the PNPA after three upperclassmen allegedly ordered two younger cadets to perform oral sex on each other as punishment.
The plebes reportedly informed the school authorities about the incident.
The senior cadets tagged in the hazing have already been placed in isolation, while the PNPA head, Chief Superintendent Joseph Adnol, was relieved from his post pending the result of the ongoing investigation.
In June, Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11052, prohibiting all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, and organizations in schools, including citizens, military and citizens' army training.
RA 11052, however, notes that the physical, mental and pshychologial fitness of prospective regular members of the police and the military "shall not be considered as hazing."
"The exception provided herein shall likewise apply to similar procedures and practices approved by the respective heads of other uniformed learning institutions as to their prospective members," the law reads.
Duterte, who admitted he had also experienced hazing, said oral sex was an unacceptable form of initiation.
"Ako dumaan ako ng hazing (I also experienced hazing), I injured pain, I was hospitalized," he said.
"'Yung ginawa sa akin ok na yun, tapos na yun. 'Yung hampas, bugbog. But itong klaseng hazing na pakainin mo yung tao, puro kayo lalaki, he will go out of that academy almost robbed of his humanity and he will always remember that," he added.
(The hazing I experienced was fine. I was just hit and flogged. But this kind of hazing, oral sex of same sex, they're both men, he will go out of that academy almost robbed of his humanity and he will always remember that.)
The Commander-in-Chief expressed worry that police cadets who experience trauma and lose dignity because of hazing would take it out on other people when they become police officers.
Duterte also warned the aspiring policemen to avoid hazing, telling them that he would not hesitate to dismiss them if they get involved in such an unlawful activity.
"I don't need that kind of policemen, not during my time. in my generation, for the next generation of Filipinos. You do not train a soldier or a policeman who goes out of academy with a trauma. It’s a deep psychological insult and stays in the head. That kind of thing is really taboo. Hindi gawain ng lalaki iyan (That's not what a man does)," Duterte said.
"Please 'yung gustong pumasok o nandiyan na (to those who are already cadets and who want to become a police officer), do not ever do that kasi mag aaway lang tayo (we will just fight each other). For me, pag dumating yan sa lamesa ko 'yan (when it reaches my table), it is dismissal. Period," he added. (SunStar Philippines)