TWO aspiring police applicants quit their training program in Cebu after a week, saying they couldn’t bear the “pressure”.
Their exit raised questions about conditions of the training program amid allegations in a text message from an unnamed radio listener to Bombo Radyo that the young men were maltreated in the camp.
Lynick John Openia, 22, of Bohol, and 23-year-old Jake Grampon of Sibulan, Negros Oriental were two of 146 trainees in a police training school in Consolacion town, northern Cebu.
In letters to the head of the training school, the trainees cited “stress” and “pressure” as the reasons they decided to quit.
“I have found it hard to handle the stress I have in the training and have decided to resign from the training school. However, I was not forced to resign or mishandled by any staff. I am thankful for imparting their knowledge in the short time I was assigned,” Openia wrote.
Grampon, for his part said he was happy that he was given a chance to join the police force “but when it comes to the training classes I could not handle the stress.”
Supt. Edwelito Rosales, head of the training school, said the two trainees may have failed to cope with the rigors of the training.
“There were a lot of fitness exercises. They may have found it unusual from their civilian routine. There is strict observance of time like waking up in the morning at 4 a.m. sharp,” said Rosales.
The two were part of the Alpha Corinthians Batch.
Rosales denied the allegation of maltreatment cited in the radio show, saying, hazing is not allowed in the training camp.
“We don’t do that to trainees. Why do they have to make an issue whenever someone quits?” said Rosales.
Rosales said Openia was picked up by his uncle, a policeman, when he left the training camp.
A medical certificate from the school nurse showed that both trainees had no signs of bruises or hematoma.
The anti-hazing law or Republic Act 8049 passed in 1995 prohibits hazing which is defined as an “initiation rite or practice for admission into membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte or applicant in some embarrassing or humiliating situations.”
Chief Supt. Prudencio Bañas, director of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas, expressed dismayed over the two trainees’ decision to quit.
He said their slots in the program could have been given to more determined applicants.