Albayalde urges PMA to restore ‘first class policy” to prevent hazing

September 23, 2019

The head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) should adopt their “first class policy” to prevent the incident of hazing.

In a press briefing, Police General Oscar Albayalde said they had this policy during their time but it seems it is not  being done at PMA now.

“We have what we called 'first class policy' but I think it’s now gone. (This is) where you mentor the second year or the yearling who are very vulnerable in hazing,” he said.

Albayalde said cadets who passed the hazing initiation on their first year in PMA take revenge.

“That’s why we have this first class policy program in PMA when we were cadets… It’s very common that second year ( cadets) are always involved so there is that responsibility where you (as a) graduating cadet, which we called first class, that you mentor the yearlings to prevent hazing,” he said.

Albayalde said cadets enter PMA to train and not conduct hazing.

“The main purpose of you as a cadet, you are being trained by the government and being paid to be trained and be educated,” he said.

Albayalde said though he experienced hazing in their time, it should be removed and not tolerated.

“I’m not saying that we are tolerating hazing, no of course. Even before, let me assure the public that hazing was never tolerated especially now that we have a hazing law (that has) stiffer penalties,” he said.

However, as a former PMA cadet, Albayalde said hazing is a matter of “personal perception”.

“Like (Senator Ronald) Bato (Dela Rosa), he saw it also on his own advantage as I see it on my own personal advantage. It depends on the person but of course the law says it’s a violation,” he said.

“I'm not encouraging hazing, that is just my personal perception. I’m not saying it should be the perception of everybody and we are not encouraging hazing,” he further said.

The issue of hazing resurfaced after 4th class cadet Darwin Dormitorio died at the PMA station hospital last Wednesday. The PMA admitted Dormitorio was “maltreated”.

Albayalde said cases will be filed against the three suspected cadets who are involved in the incident.  Ella Dionisio/DMS