PNP official suspended for abusing 25 trainees

MANILA, Philippines — A police official who allegedly used excessive force in disciplining 25 police trainees in Las Piñas City in October last year was sanctioned with a suspension without pay for 31 days, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

Col. Jean Fajardo, the PNP’s chief publicist, said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has imposed the penalty on Maj. Knowme Sia following summary hearing proceedings on the administrative cases filed against him.

However, the NCRPO has yet to implement its sanction on Sia after the police official filed a motion for reconsideration on March 6.

“He filed a timely motion for reconsideration so we are waiting for that to be resolved,” Fajardo said in a phone interview.

She said the criminal cases of maltreatment against Sia did not prosper after the victims withdrew their complaints.

The victims have since graduated from their training and are now regular members of the police force, Fajardo said.

Sia was relieved from his post as chief of the Las Piñas police’s administrative resources management section after he berated and physically hit 25 police trainees with a wooden stick for being late. The incident occurred on Oct. 29, 2023.

The police official ordered the trainees to report to the police station at exactly 8 a.m. for administrative announcements and accounting as part of preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

However, the victims arrived at the police station late, which angered Sia.