LEGAZPI CITY?Twenty-six police officers in Bicol have been relieved, with three of them facing dismissal for hazing new police recruits, an official said Wednesday.

Bicol Police Chief Paterno Bangui said he ordered the relief on March 5, and following an order from the National Police Commission to sack the entire training staff for their direct involvement in hazing.

The commission gave the order after it received a letter containing a video footage of the policemen hazing recruits on March 3, said Pedro Magannon, the agency?s regional director.

Those relieved included Senior Supt. Joel Regondola, head of the 5th Police Regional Mobile Group, Bangui said.

The policemen facing dismissal are Police Officers 1 Vernon Palibino, Eugene Ros and Israel Caolie.

?The video footage was clear evidence that the three police training staff indeed committed acts in violation of the Anti-Hazing Law, grounds for dismissal in the service,? Magannon said. Mar S. Arguelles