A cadet third class at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) died after being punched by his upperclassman, the local police said Friday, September 24. 

In a phone interview, Police Lieutenant Colonel Louie Gonzaga, chief of the PNPA public information office (PIO), also confirmed to Rappler the death of Cadet Third Class Karl Magsayo of PNPA Batch 2024.

Based on the report of Silang municipal police, the 21-year-old Magsayo and his friend went to the room of Cadet 2nd Class Steve Cesar Maingat, the suspect, around 5:40 pm on Thursday. Shortly, the suspect punched Magsayo in the stomach five times.

Magsayo lost consciousness after the incident. The police had yet to disclose why Maingat punched Magsayo.

The PNPA PIO chief added that Magsayo was rushed to the hospital but was later declared dead on arrival around 6:43 pm. The suspect is now under the custody of Silang police.

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Police Corporal Ramil Legaspi, the police officer in charge of the case, told Rappler that the suspect would be subjected for inquest on Monday, September 27.

Meanwhile, PNPA director Major General Rhoderick Armamento also formed a special investigating group to probe the incident.  

“We are in direct communication with the family and right now po, rolling pa ‘yung (the) conduct of an in-depth investigation of the special investigation task group,” Gonzaga added. 

On the angle of hazing, Gonzaga said the PNPA implemented a strong anti-hazing policy.  

“We would like to assure everyone, the public, and the family of the deceased cadet na mataas po ang ating implementation ng ‘no to hazing’ policy. Napakalakas po ng ating implementation diyan. And that part of it is ‘yung strong inculcation natin amongst our cadets for the respect of human lives and human rights,” the PNPA PIO chief said. 

(We would like to assure everyone, the public, and the family of the deceased cadet that we are strictly implementing an anti-hazing policy. We have a very strong implementation of that policy. And that part of it is the strong inculcation amongst our cadets of the respect for human lives and human rights.) 

PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar has yet to comment on Magsayo’s death.

Magsayo was the latest cadet to die inside the PNPA. In July 2020, two cadets, who also belonged to PNPA Class of 2024, died inside the police academy.

On July 8, Cadet Fourth Class Kenneth Ross Alvarado died of a heat stroke. Within the same week, Cadet Fourth Class Jiary Jasen Papa died due to low potassium intake on July 11, 2020. – Rappler.com– Rappler.com