BALIWAG, Bulacan — The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) is investigating police officers accused of striking a 17-year-old boy with a rifle at an alleged unmarked checkpoint in Baliwag on Oct. 31, leaving the teenager with a fractured arm.

The boy’s father filed an administrative complaint with NAPOLCOM on Nov. 13, seeking accountability for the alleged assault and the failure of responding officers to ensure that his son received immediate medical attention.

During a press briefing, the father said his son was driving a motorcycle with a passenger along the Baliwag-Pulilan Bypass Road when they passed two police officers standing by the roadside. After another motorcycle ahead of them passed without being stopped, his son also continued driving but was allegedly struck with a long firearm by one of the officers.

The two fled out of fear but were eventually intercepted by police in an alley and brought to the police station, where their motorcycle was issued a ticket for impoundment, the father said.

He added that a policewoman initially examined his son at the station but reportedly dismissed the injury as a bruise. The father later brought the teenager to a hospital, where an X-ray taken at about 11 p.m. revealed a fracture in his arm.

Because the initial hospital did not have an orthopedic specialist, the boy was transferred to another medical facility for further treatment.

The father initially sought assistance from the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service but later withdrew his complaint and filed it with NAPOLCOM, saying he had greater confidence in Commissioner Ralph Calinisan to pursue the case.

He said the incident had prevented his son from attending school for two weeks and had also kept him from working during the same period.

Calinisan questioned why the injured minor was not immediately referred for medical examination and medico-legal documentation, saying the visible injury should have prompted police to seek medical attention.

“Even at first glance, that was not an ordinary bruise. That should have prompted an immediate medical examination and medico-legal documentation,” Calinisan said.

He also questioned whether the force allegedly used against the teenager was justified, even if police had grounds to stop him for failing to heed the checkpoint.

“Was the force used reasonable? Was it justified to strike a minor with a firearm just to make him stop?” he said.

Calinisan said NAPOLCOM would also determine whether the checkpoint complied with established police procedures, which require proper signage, supervision by a police officer and placement in a well-lit and visible area.

He stressed that the commission would not prejudge the case based solely on the father’s account but said the allegations warranted a thorough investigation.

The probe will focus on four areas: the legitimacy and supervision of the checkpoint, the use of force against the minor, the handling of the incident at the police station, and the possible command responsibility of the officers’ superiors.

Calinisan said the officers involved could face administrative charges, including neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Personnel who handled the incident at the station could also be held liable for negligence, depending on the findings.

The commission will likewise examine whether the officers’ superiors may be held accountable for lapses in supervision.

Calinisan said NAPOLCOM was working to establish the identities of the officers involved but declined to disclose their names pending official verification.

He said the commission learned about the incident only recently and that the formal complaint was filed a day before the press briefing.

“We may already have an idea who they are, but I will not mention any names until I have the official documents before me,” he said.

Calinisan thanked the family for bringing the complaint to NAPOLCOM and said the commission would pursue accountability to help restore public confidence in the police force.

“We will stop this culture of violence and impunity. This has to stop,” he said.