PNP official accused of abusing 25 trainees

MANILA, Philippines — A police official assigned in Las Piñas City who allegedly used excessive force in disciplining police trainees was sacked from his post on Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, ordered the administrative relief of Maj. Knowme Sia as chief of the Las Piñas police’s administrative resources management section pending an investigation of the alleged abuses he committed.

There were 25 trainees who filed complaints against Sia, according to NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Eunice Salas. The trainees are currently in a field training program.

“Mga patrolmen and patrolwomen,” Salas said in a phone interview.

An investigation report stated that the incident happened in the police station at around 8:14 a.m. on Oct. 29.

Through a group chat, Sia ordered the trainees to report to the police station at exactly 8 a.m. for administrative announcements and accounting due to the full alert status for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

However, the complainants failed to come on time and were marked late.

Sia then ordered them to go to his office, where the official berated them and allegedly hit their head and body with a wooden stick.

Apart from possible administrative sanctions, police are also preparing complaints of maltreatment against Sia.