Hazing probe nets 2 cadets
We had directed the PMA to conduct a thorough and speedy investigation to shed light into the incident
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed to leave no stone unturned in the recurrence of a hazing incident inside the premiere military school that resulted in the death of 20-year old Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio last 18 September.
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) spokesman Major Reynan Afan confirmed in a radio interview that two upper class cadets who have direct relation to the death of Dormitorio are detained at stockade while another is at the holding area.
Afan said during the conduct of the ongoing probe they were able to determine that the two cadets had a hand in the victim’s death.
The AFP said it is ready to hand over those responsible to let the wheel of justice turn.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. gave the assurance as he extended the military’s condolences to the Dormitorio family.
“We had directed the PMA to conduct a thorough and speedy investigation to shed light into the incident. We will also hand over those responsible to the proper authorities to let the wheel of justice turn,” Madrigal said.
All those involved in the unfortunate incident will be made accountable even as the AFP continues to uphold the highest degree of accountability and transparency within its ranks.
“Let it be known that the AFP does not tolerate any kind of action that endangers the lives of all our members, more so future leaders of our organization. We hold every soldier, cadet and civilian employee with the highest standards of professionalism and respect for human life,” Madrigal said.
“The AFP will continue to undertake necessary steps to ensure that this tragic incident is properly investigated and to prevent it from happening again,” he added.
Suspects in holding area
The names of the two detained cadets are being withheld pending the approval from higher authorities.
“During the process of the investigation, eventually there are ones who will be found directly involved. One of them we are still trying to determine if he is involved as we get more information but as of now, we have two who we saw have a direct relation to what happened,” Afan said.
“Both of them were placed in the stockade while the other is in a holding center,” he added.
Afan said they are working on the filing of administrative cases against the suspects and the possible lapses that happened to prevent a repeat of the incident.
With regards to the criminal cases to be filed against the suspects, Afan said they are still awaiting the final investigation report from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“We are still waiting for the details of the investigation, the final investigation. I understand the PNP-SOCO has a process before releasing a statement or basic idea of their statement,” Afan said.
Hospital also probed
In the same interview, Afan again ensured that there will be no whitewash in the ongoing probe.
“No, because right on the first day, the PMA had already opened the matter to investigators, to experts from government for them to see, to probe everything that needed to be investigated on the cadet,” Afan said.
Let it be known that the AFP does not tolerate any kind of action that endangers the lives of all our members.
He added part of the investigation was to determine if the victim was admitted to the hospital three times and if there were administrative lapses with regards to how his medical condition was handled.
“We are looking at administrative lapses on our part. The PMA is willing to correct any mistake that will be seen during the investigation,” Afan said.
It was learned that after undergoing checkup at the PMA Hospital on 17 September, Dormitorio was told to return to barracks until he vomited the following morning.
“Yes, at about 1 in the morning, that was the initial report that he vomited. We are still trying to find out what happened between 1 o’clock to 4 o’clock in the morning when the cadet was still alive,” he revealed.
“There are processes in the academy. It depends on the case of the cadet or patient if he is needed to be confined at the hospital. He will be confined, that is the judgment of the medical practitioner if he will be sent to barracks and rest in his room. This will be given to him, so we will look into that, if there are administrative lapses,” Afan noted.
The PMA earlier confirmed hazing as the cause of death of Dormitorio based on a medico-legal report of the PNP-Baguio which revealed that he died due to blunt-force trauma.