Rookie cop injured in alleged hazing

THE Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating allegations of hazing by junior police officers by its superiors in Angadanan, Isabela, the information office chief said public of the PNP, Colonel Jean Fajardo, Monday June 3, 2024.

In a press conference at Camp Crame, Fajardo said Patrolman Jeremy Matthew Padilla, 26, recently assigned to the Regional Mobile Forces Battalion in Barangay Macalauat, Angadanan Town, named three other policemen who l allegedly mutilated on the evening of May 24.

According to a police report, the alleged suspects struck Padilla in several places on his body and hit him with a wooden paddle.

Padilla's face was also covered with a damp cloth.

According to his medical report, he suffered multiple physical injuries resulting from mutilation, including a hematoma in the upper right quadrant of his abdomen, hematomas on the anterior and posterior aspects of his right thigh, a hematoma on his front left arm and abrasions on both arms. right and left knees.

His condition is now stable and the doctor has advised him to rest for three days.

Fajardo, however, said Padilla's classmates denied his claims, saying he ran away suddenly while undergoing an immediate action exercise during which he could likely sustain bruises.

She said Padilla was not inclined to press charges against the alleged suspects.

Fajardo assured that there will be no whitewashing in the investigation carried out by IMEG and that those responsible for the said incident will face criminal and administrative charges. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)