Graduation traditions are common in most schools and even the craziest ones are usually done in good fun, but sometimes, they can also get a little too violent, just as it did for six recent graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).
On Wednesday, the six men were sent to the hospital after they were beaten up and hit with arnis sticks and stones, allegedly by underclassmen. They were wounded and sustained head injuries.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa, this was done as part of a “tradition” that has under underclassmen beating up their seniors as payback for being too hard on them.
The victims were identified by the PNPA today as:
PINSP Ylam Buaquen Lambenecio
PINSP Arjay Masangkay Divino
PINSP Mark Kevin Rellores Villares
PINSP Floyd Quinaquin Traqueña
PINSP Jan Paul Dalapus Magmoyao
JINSP Arjay Marcaida Cuasay
However, PNPA Director Chief Superintendent Joseph Adnol refused to call it a tradition and said that it was probably done by undergraduates who were angry at their seniors. He also told reporters that this was an “isolated case.”
But while it is not a school-sanctioned activity, Dela Rosa said it is one that students themselves have been doing. And he told reporters earlier today that he wants to put a stop to it.
“My reaction is that kind of tradition is not good. It’s sad to say, it promotes a cycle of violence because if that kind of tradition is not stopped, it will happen every year,” Dela Rosa told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.
According to a Rappler report, the six men were on their way back to the barracks after the graduation ceremony in Silang, Cavite on Wednesday when the underclassmen, who were waiting near the area, started beating them up.
Nine suspects now face criminal and administrative charges for allegedly mauling the victims. According to ABS-CBN News, these suspects were identified by witnesses as:
Donald Ramirez Kissing
Jem Camcam Peralta
Clint John Baguidodol
Paul Christopher Macalalad
Loreto Aquino Tulao, Jr.
Four cadets were only identified with their last names:
Delos Santos
Calamba
Coplat
Amanon
