MANILA, Philippines -- At least nine Air Force officer candidates are facing dismissal while 12 others and the junior officer assigned as their training instructor are under investigation for the hazing of two officer candidates who had to be hospitalized for the severity of their injuries.
Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Enrico Canaya said the hazing took place at the Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School,in Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
He said the incident was reported in early August and that the two victims, belonging to Class 2015, suffered internal injuries but have since returned to training, although they are “required to report to the hospital†regularly.
Canaya said the two victims have been placed “under protective custody†while the investigation is going on.
The officer candidates accused of hazing belong to Class 2014, Canaya said.
Canaya said the investigation confirmed that there had been “body contact†on the victims, which is prohibited, although he could not say exactly what kind of contact took place.