BSU sets probe on cadets’ hazing by ROTC officers

Trainees forced to masturbate 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Benguet State University administration is set to probe allegations of students against officers of the Reserve Officers Training Corp. (ROTC) of hazing, maltreatment and sexual abuse like forcing cadets to masturbate against their will.  

A forum organized by the National Service Training Program of BSU was held at the school Thursday, wherein students hurled several charges against ROTC officials who denied allegations.

Students said they were dismayed by the defense of Cadet 1st Class Khaner Belmoro, acting BSU ROTC commander, against accusations of physical and sexual abuses in program implementation.
           Several students were heard booing Belmoro, while giving his speech, as he claimed that no hazing was experienced by cadets.

Students responded by asking why many allegations of abuses exist despite denial from the ROTC leadership.

A student asked why members of the school’s Democratic Party of the Youth (Dap-Ay) were complaining even if they will be held accountable for any “inaccurate accusations.”

The ROTC official claimed that students may have personal grudge against former ROTC officials that led to circulation of alleged
hazing incidents.

“Baka personal na galit [referring to former ROTC officials] ...siguro dahil sa pag-ibig,” Belmoro said.

Earlier, Dap-Ay urged the university administration and student council to conduct an urgent investigation regarding the said hazing accusations.

From a fact sheet obtained by the group from a certain Willy, an alleged victim of hazing, he accused officers

and unknown alumni for mauling and hitting them with wooden riffles during academic year
2014-2015.

Moreover, he narrated sexual abuses saying, “Iniutos niya [Corp Commander Baguiwan] na tanggalin namin yung mga damit namin, lahat lahat …pagkatapos inutos ng aming corp. commander na mags-ls-l kami.”

The said incident allegedly happened second semester in 2014,
when he was still pursuing advance courses on ROTC.

The cadet said only 20 enrolled for the second semester from almost 60 cadets who were part of advanced military training first semester of 2014-2015 due to hazing incidents.

In the end, only Belmoro was able to finish the training, Willy.
Meanwhile, Anakbayan slammed what it called “obvious lies” of ROTC

officials during the forum.

“They cannot even answer simple questions on why there were such allegations. It was clear in the forum that no one believed them and these officials were just fooling themselves,” said Luke Bagangan, secretary general of Anakbayan Cordillera.

The group said it welcomed pronouncement of the student council and
the university administration to look into the issue.

“Since there is a great clamor from students for a formal investigation, we urge the administration and the council to put these pronouncements into action. These students want action and they want it now,” a youth leader said.