BAGUIO CITY – Police authorities disclosed that there are now nine cadets that are being linked to the alleged maltreatment of cadet fourth-class Darwin Dormitorio inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) following the discovery of two more third-class cadets who were involved in the maltreatment incident based on the ongoing investigation.
Police Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, and Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) City Director Police Col. Allen Rae F. Co refused to divulge the identities of the two third-class cadets who will be included in the charges that will be filed for their blatant violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
Earlier, the Philippine Military Academy sanctioned seven cadets and two PMA personnel.
Further, the police officials also presented to the members of the media the taser flashlight that was surrendered to the investigators by one of the suspects that was used in the maltreatment and electrocution of parts of the bodies of Dormitorio prior to his confinement on August 20-27, 2019 at the PMA station hospital.
Initial investigation showed at around 1 a.m. of September 18, Dormitorio started vomiting inside their barracks and complaining of stomach ache where at around 4 a.m. he was brought to PMA Station hospital and later pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. on the same day.
To date, there are still no criminal charges filed against the suspects in the death of Dormitorio as police are still collating the statement of the 12 cadets and two PMA personnel.
“We close all the windows iyong mga oras na kailangan malaman. We trace each and every minute the last hours of the life of Cadet Dormitorio from when he was brought to the hospital until the time of his death,” Co added.
Dickson stated the police are closely coordinating with the PMA.
“We want all angles to be investigated,” Dickson added.
Dormitory was allegedly maltreated by his third-class buddies after he reportedly spent more than half of his monthly allowance wherein a taser flashlight was used by one of the suspects to paralyze some parts of the victims body that caused his hospitalization for more than a week last month.
On the other hand, the reason for his being again maltreated during the middle of September was the alleged missing combat boots of a second-class cadet that was entrusted to him for safekeeping.
Probers are also in possession of Dormitorio’s letter to his parents stating the abuses that he experienced from his upperclassmen but its contents will be released in the proper forum for whatever purposes it will serve.
Four of the involved cadets stand to be discharged from the Academy while three of them could be meted suspension from the institution aside from being charged for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
One of the involved cadets was earlier suspended for one year and was restricted from approaching the plebes after the initial maltreatment incident but he was able to repeat the same abuse.
By Dexter A. See
