Criminal cases were lodged against 54 officers of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in connection with the alleged hazing of more than 100 police recruits in Basilan, the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.
The list of respondents expanded as investigators identified additional personnel allegedly involved in or present during the incident, which took place after a training course at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14B camp in Barangay Ubit.
Authorities said the recruits were subjected to abusive reception rites that went beyond standard procedures, prompting complaints and an internal investigation by the police.
Accounts gathered by investigators indicated that the new personnel were ordered to perform physically exhausting drills and were allegedly assaulted with wooden sticks during the activity.
Those implicated came from various ranks, ranging from senior officers to patrolmen, suggesting that responsibility extended across different levels of command.
Police said the complaints were filed under provisions of the Anti-Hazing Act, covering those who allegedly planned, supervised, directly participated in, or were present during the rites.
All 54 officers named in the complaints were placed under restrictive custody while the investigation continued, with preventive suspension also being considered.
Following the incident, the entire Mobile Force Battalion 14B was relieved from its post and replaced by another unit to ensure uninterrupted operations and protect the integrity of the probe.