Lapses in procedures eyed in PMA plebe’s pool death

Administrative lapses possibly committed by two Philippine Military Academy (PMA) swimming instructors and a cadet are being looked into as the investigation into the death of a plebe continues, a military spokesperson bared on Monday.

Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, said the swimming instructors were not present at the pool area when Cadet Fourth Class Mario Telan Jr. drowned last Friday during a swimming lesson.

Meanwhile, Arevalo added that the class or section marcher failed to conduct an accounting of the class after the swimming lesson. A class or section marcher is a cadet tasked to do an accounting of his fellow cadets before and after every activity.

Telan’s absence would have been noticed earlier if an accounting was done after the swimming lesson.

“They were made to explain why they were not in the pool area during the time of the incident and why an accounting was not conducted after the class,” Arevalo said.

“They may have an explanation to justify why they were not there or why an accounting was not done so that’s part of due process. We need to ask them,” he added.

However, the AFP spokesperson assured that administrative cases will be filed against the swimming instructors and the class marcher if proven they are indeed accountable for Telan’s death.

“It’s possible. It will depend on the outcome of their explanation. They should explain why they should not be held accountable on their failure to do their obligations or responsibilities that could have prevented the incident from occurring,” Arevalo explained.

Telan was found dead at the deep end of the academy’s 15-foot deep pool after he failed to surface during a diving session with his fellow cadets.

The Baguio police, which leads the investigation, earlier ruled out foul play in the incident.

Telan is the third cadet to die in the academy in two months, following the hazing death of his batchmate Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio on September 18, and Cadet Second Class Cedrick Gadia’s death due to esophageal cancer on October 28.