Hazing among police recruits is now a thing of the past.

“This is because we are very particular about human rights violations in the Philippine National Police,” Chief Supt. Luis Saligumba, director of the Police National Training Institute, said recently.

“Human rights subjects are now incorporated in all courses, not only for police recruits, but also for junior and senior leadership training,” Saligumba who announced the new assignment of Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin as director of the National Forensic Science Training Institute of the Philippine Public Safety College, said.

He also said they have not received reports of any hazing activities in all regional training schools all over the country, that are supervised by the PNTI.

He, however, admitted the involvement of neophyte policemen in illegal activities.

Saligumba, who used to be commander of the 1st Special Action Force Battalion of the PNP in southern Negros in the mid-1990s, said they have not been remiss in their duties to teach them the basic values formation, and proper training during their stay at the various PNP regional training schools.

“They may have failed to properly absorb what we have been teaching them for a year,” he said, referring to involvement of neophyte policemen in illegal activities.

Saligumba also said the selection process, including psycho-neuro testing, is being done by the police regional offices. “We receive them only for training, and return them to regional offices and to police officers,” he stressed.

He admitted that they cannot change the attitude of police recruits after only a year, after being influenced by their parents, relatives , neighbors and environment for more than 20 years.

He said the PNP can only strengthen the good qualities of police recruits, that they have learned from their parents.

Saligumba stressed the need for a continuing background check on police recruits, even though they are still in the training process.

The PNP Internal Affairs Service and its Human Rights Affairs Office are the organizations that make sure that no personnel or recruit of the PNP is subjected to unlawful acts such as hazing and torture.

Balquin was replaced yesterday by Supt. Redentor Retusto as the PNP Regional Training School 6 director.* GPB

back to top