Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday ordered the sacking of the chief of the Fire National Training Institute and 11 tactical officers over the hazing of nine trainees of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Fire Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu, FNTI director, was also accused by the trainees of trying to collect P1,000 from each of them supposedly for the construction of a chapel.

Named to replace him is Senior Supt. Richard Villanueva, former fire marshall of La Union.

Puno announced their relief on the complainants? sworn affidavits filed before the bureau?s Internal Affairs Service about the alleged physical and mental torture by tactical officers in Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna.

?We do not condone any form of hazing activity in any of the police, fire and jail training institutions under the DILG.?

Aside from Kwan Tiu, the other officers sacked from their posts were Chief Insp. David Aris, Senior Insp. Lowyn Amoyan, Senior Insp. Orlando Antonio, Insp. Sonny Cando, Insp. Josephus Alburo, Insp. Rowella Dinolan, Insp. Ellafil Libarnes, Insp. Heidi Lyn Virtudes, Insp. Eric Sabian, SFO4 Arnel Rojas, and SFO1 Romeo Molina.

They have been to the bureau?s national headquarters to undergo further investigation.

Puno ordered Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus to make sure that the trainees are protected from any form of retaliation by the tactical officers.

In an interview with newsmen, Corpus said the trainees also accused Kwan Tiu of wanting to take control of the laundry and related services at the institute.

?If he really wanted a chapel at the FNTI, he should ask for a budget from the PPSC [Philippine Public Safety College],? he said. ?Construction of a chapel is not obligation of the trainees.?

After the investigation and probable cause is found, Kwan Tiu and the other accused may face administrative and criminal charges for violating the Anti-Hazing Law. Romie A. Evangelista