Philippine Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete ordered an immediate and complete halt to all so-called “reception ceremonies” for new Army soldiers in what appears to be a direct response to mounting public clamor against hazing and similar practices in the military.

This came amid increasing scrutiny over reports of fatalities and injuries allegedly linked to the reception ceremonies being conducted during the entry of new trainees, the latest of which involved the late 22-year-old Private Charlie G. Patigayon.

Reception ceremonies are traditional initiation rites for recruits that involve physically demanding endurance activities and historically, they are considered a “welcoming” or baptism of fire for new soldiers.

“There was an instruction to stop all the reception ceremonies within the Philippine Army. These differ from the reception ceremonies performed when a soldier begins his training, so this will continue because it’s part of the system of the training schools. But some units are conducting reception ceremonies for new soldiers on their own, that’s what he wanted to stop,” Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

“These reception ceremonies are unwritten traditions that should be stopped to avoid the loss of lives,” he added.

The Army has conducted an investigation to determine what transpired during the reception ceremony of the Bravo Company under the 6th Infantry Battalion (6IB), 6th Infantry Division (6ID) on July 30 at the headquarters of the 6IB in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur.

Patigayon collapsed while undergoing the reception ceremony and was rushed to a hospital where he expired a day later due to kidney failure. His family has requested an autopsy of his remains.

It turned out that the reception ceremony was done by the Bravo Company “on its own” and “without the knowledge of the 6IB leadership”, according to Dema-ala.

“It was an initiative of the company. The 6IB has three companies and each company received new Privates. However, the two other companies did not conduct reception ceremonies; the Bravo Company was the lone company that performed it. In other words, it was not sanctioned. There was no order from the battalion commander to conduct reception ceremonies,” he explained.

Supposed to be, the battalion commander of the 6IB should have been informed of all the activities of each company for approval and regulation, Dema-ala stressed.

“It’s the responsibility of the company commander to inform his immediate superior [of the activities]. The battalion commander should know everything that is happening within his unit,” he added.

As a result of the incident, two commissioned officers and 21 enlisted personnel have been relieved of their duties, including the Bravo Company commander and the platoon leader with the ranks of First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant, respectively. They were placed under the custody of the 6ID at Camp Brig. Gen. Gonzalo H. Siongco in Brgy. Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated that it does not tolerate hazing, physical abuse, maltreatment, or any form of degrading treatment of soldiers.

It said the organization is a “professional institution built on discipline, integrity, and respect for human dignity.”

AFP Chief, General Romeo Grawber Jr. issued a directive to all units to uphold the highest standards of military conduct and discipline, and reject all forms of hazing, physical abuse, maltreatment, and degrading treatment.

“The AFP remains fully committed to cultivating a culture of professionalism, mutual respect, and accountability. All personnel, regardless of rank or tenure, must be treated with dignity in every setting, whether in training, duty, ceremonies, or daily interactions,” he said.

The remains of Private Patigayon remained at the mortuary of the 6ID at Camp Siongco as of writing.