The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) yesterday assured that the hazing that resulted in the death of Cdt. 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio was an isolated case.
“This is not the rule. This is an exception. This is an isolated case, and it should never happen again in the academy,” PMA spokesman Maj.
Reynan Afan told reporters.
According to Afan, a medical check-up of around 300 fourth class cadets is being conducted to see if anyone of them had been maltreated by upperclassmen.
“We will leave it to the PMA hospital (how regular the check-up would be but) what is important is extensive (it would be) for all of them,” he said.
All PMA cadets were mourning the death of Dormitorio, but life in the country’s premier military school continues, according to Afan.
The PMA spokesman said no cadet has quit and “in fact they are better and more inspired cadets because of this (incident).”
He added the Dormitorio case has not affected the recruitment of cadets. On Feb 13, 1978, a fourth class cadet named Manuel Salas of “Dimalupig” Class of 1981 was killed after upperclassmen dropped heavy metal balls on his stomach.
One of the victims of hazing in the PMA allegedly was former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, who almost died.
Regarding the taser flashlight used to pump electricity into the private parts of Dormitorio and other deadly items, Afan said a cadet could find ways to bring those inside the military school.
He added that all unauthorised items are listed in the “gray book,” the so-called religious of the cadets.
Describing Dormitorio’s death as “hell,” police are planning to file a murder case against six cadet suspects behind the fatal hazing of Dormitorio, 20.
The Baguio City Police Office chief, Col. Allan Ray Co, said police might also file a case for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law, aside from murder.
Police will refer the charges to the prosecution office for evaluation and assessment before filing them in court.
“What we are preparing against them is violation of the Anti-Hazing Law or murder but it could be both,” Co said.
A murder case is justified, he added, because of “evident premeditation” but it would be up to the prosecutor what cases would be filed before the court.
Criminal negligence could be filed against two medical personnel of the PMA, Co said.
“Did you conduct necessary tests and examinations? That is one question that needs to be asked of doctors there, most probably (in their diagnosis if Darwin was still alive),” he added.
Co said the number of suspects could increase based on accounts of witnesses. Suspects at present are one first class, one second class and four third class cadets.
The suspects who had been identified were Cadets 3rd Class Shalimar Imperial and Felix Lumbag and Cdt. 1st Class Axl Ray Sanupao.
The latest suspect was a third class cadet who reportedly kicked Dormitorio in the face, when the latter sat down on the suspect’s bed.
According to Co, this cadet was offended by what Dormitorio did.
He revealed that the taser flashlight used in electrocuting Dormitorio belonged to one of the four, third class cadet suspects.
Brig. Gen. Ephraim Dickson, Cordillera Police Regional Office director, said he hopes to finish investigation of the case on Monday or Tuesday.
The six suspects are now under the custody of the PMA.
Newly appointed PMA commandant Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner yesterday admitted that some in the academy were “definitely” practising the “culture of silence.”
Brawner said he aims to replace it with the “culture of peace” as part of his long-term objectives in reforming the PMA.
“When I assumed the post, I immediately declared war against hazing and then I told all the cadets that I expect each one of them to toe the line,” he told the reporters.
Brawner said lowerclass cadets experience trauma after their first year and if that is not addressed it could lead to violence.
A member of PMA “Makatao” Class of 1989, he was the commander of 103rd Brigade in Marawi City.
Brawner replaced Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro, who resigned over the hazing controversy.
Along with Brawner, Rear Adm. Allan Cusi was appointed as PMA superintendent, replacing Lt Gen.Ronnie Evangelista.