DOJ: File raps vs PMA cadets, execs over hazing death

The Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors yesterday recommended the filing of charges for murder and hazing against three Philippine Military Academy doctors and two cadets for the death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio in September last year.

In a 66-page resolution, the DOJ said murder charges should be filed against Lt. Col. Caesar

Almer Candelaria, Capt. Flor Apple Apostol and Maj. Maria Ofelia Beloy as well as Cadet Third Class Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr.

The DOJ said Imperial and Lumbag should also be prosecuted for hazing.

C3C Julius Carlo Tadena should be charged for less serious physical injuries and C2C Christian Zacarias for slight physical injuries.

The DOJ panel of prosecutors dismissed for lack of probable cause the complaints for violation of the Anti-Torture Act, murder and dereliction of duty filed against CC1C Axl Rey Sanopao, C3Cs Rey David John Volante and John Vincent Manalo, Maj. Rex Bolo and Capt. Jeffrey Batistiana.

The prosecutors also dismissed the complaints filed against former PMA superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and former Cadet Corps commandant Brig. Gen Bartolome Vicente Bacarro for lack of probable cause.

“It is somewhat with a sense of relief because finally they issued the resolution more or less seven months after we filed the cases,” the counsel of the family of Dormitorio, Jose Adrian Bonifacio, said.