PMA cadet died of hazing, police probe shows
Published Sep 20, 2019 12:41 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
A plebe of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) died of "blunt force trauma" with technical investigation from the police saying it was due to hazing, military and police officials confirmed Friday.
Cadet Fourth class Darwin Dormitorio was found unconscious in the barracks of the academy and rushed to Fort del Pilar Hospital in Baguio City on the morning of September 17, Tuesday, where he was shortly pronounced dead on arrival, the PMA said in a statement.
NO WHITE WASH – A visibly distraught Philipine Military Academy (PMA) Supt. Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista assured the public Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 that the PMA with Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) will file appropriate charges against three cadets in connection to the death of Cadet Fourth class. Darwin Dormitorio last Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. (JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Cordillera Police Regional Office (PRO-COR) said though that Dormitorio died on Wednesday.
The PMA revealed that post mortem autopsy findings ruled Dormitorio died of "blunt force trauma."
However, Police Brigadier General Ephraim Dickson, PRO-COR regional director, confirmed in a phone interview with reporters that Dormitorio died of hazing, as per the report of Baguio City Police's medico-legal.
"Yes . Mayroon siyang tama sa sikmura, sa puson area," he said.
The PRO-COR director said Dormitorio also suffered from internal bleeding.
He added that the victim could have been repeatedly kicked and punched by the assailants since the use of a blunt instrument has already been ruled out.
"Per our medico legal, ang report ay parang walang ginamit na instrument, suspected pwedeng nasuntok o nasipa," he said.
In a joint press briefing, officials of the PMA and Philippine National Police (PNP) also confirmed that Dormitorio died of hazing.
Present in the press briefing in Baguio were PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen Ronnie Evangelista, Brig. Gen. Nestor Florente DC Rayo, PMA Assistant Superintendent, and Commandant of Cadets Bgen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.
Meanwhile, the PMA announced Friday that three upperclass cadets have been identified as “persons of interest” in relation to the death of Dormitorio.
The police official also said they have yet to determine whether Dormitorio was electrocuted as claimed by the victim's relatives.
"Subject for evaluation ng ating medico legal 'yan kasi sila makakapagsabi kung merong ganyan. As far as I know, ito lang ang nakarecord na contusions at aberations," he said.
At least three upperclassmen of Dormitorio were placed under PMA restrictive custody at the barracks and treated now as persons of interest.
Two of the persons of interest are third class cadets or second years while the other one is a first class cadet or fourth year.
"At this point in time, nasa custodial investigation or restrictive custody sila ng pamunuan ng PMA at subjected for administrative evaluation or investigation," he said.
Hazing rites have long been banned in military and police training institutions, although authorities continue to fail to completely ensure that such acts will not be carried out.
In August 2018, nine cadets from the PNP Academy were ordered dismissed in connection with the mauling of six newly graduates of the PNPA Maragtas Class of 2018 inside their barracks.
It was later revealed in a police probe that the dismissed cadets were victims of hazing by their upperclassmen so they held a grudge against them, leading to the mauling incident.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the PMA and PNP offered condolences to the bereaved family of Dormitorio.
"It is unfortunate that a life has been lost. We pledge that no stone will be left unturned. All perpetrators will be held liable to the full extent of the law," the PMA said.
On the other hand, Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, assured that the police is ready to lend technical support in investigating Dormitorio's death.
Lawmakers condemn hazing
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago on Friday condemned the purported hazing ritual that took the life Dormitorio.
"We condole with the family and friends of Darwin Dormitorio, 20, who died September 19, just 53 days after entering the Philippine Military Academy as a Cadet 4th Class and vehemently condemn the continued hazing in the Philippine Military Academy," Elago said in a statement.
"We join his parents in looking forward to an investigation into Darwin’s death. Cadets and students everywhere don’t expect deaths to happen inside schools, especially in the country’s most prestigious military academy," added the youth solon and House Minority Bloc member.
Elago said the upcoming probe ought to shed light on why a healthy and fit 20-year-old who passed PMA’s strict requirements would die due to “cardiac arrest secondary to internal hemorrhage” in less than two months as a cadet.
"We also want to know what steps authorities took when Darwin earlier complained of stomach pain and was seen vomiting hours before being found unconscious at PMA Mayo Hall Annex Room 209," she said.
Elago wondered if Dormitorio's life could have been saved if he was quickly brought to the PMA Station Hospital.
"Why wait for him to pass out and for his condition to get so worse that he could not be saved?"
"We also note media reports that PMA had placed upperclassmen and Darwin’s classmates under 'restrictive confinement' pending an investigation," she said.
"I will immediately confer with Cagayan de Oro Reps. Rolando Uy and Rufus Rodriguez on what we in Congress could do to honor Darwin and his family, and to make sure his death would be fully investigated and the perpetrators be convicted," Elago added.
Meanwhile, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Friday he is extremely saddened by the death of his fellow Kagay-anon (Cagayan).
“This is unacceptable and must be investigated immediately! We cannot turn a blind eye to this kind of violence in the country’s premier military training institution. Apparently, the situation was exacerbated by negligence in the medical treatment of this young man,” Pimentel said.
The former Senate President expressed his dismay that such an unfortunate incident still occurred despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which imposes harsher penalties on organizers and participants of hazing.
“We strongly urge the appropriate PMA Officers to bring the perpetrators to justice. We have to protect our children and future heroes from this atrocious practice,” Pimentel added. (With reports from Zaldy Commanda, Ellson Quismorio, Mario Casayuran and Andrea Aro)
NO WHITE WASH – A visibly distraught Philipine Military Academy (PMA) Supt. Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista assured the public Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 that the PMA with Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) will file appropriate charges against three cadets in connection to the death of Cadet Fourth class. Darwin Dormitorio last Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. (JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Cordillera Police Regional Office (PRO-COR) said though that Dormitorio died on Wednesday.
The PMA revealed that post mortem autopsy findings ruled Dormitorio died of "blunt force trauma."
However, Police Brigadier General Ephraim Dickson, PRO-COR regional director, confirmed in a phone interview with reporters that Dormitorio died of hazing, as per the report of Baguio City Police's medico-legal.
"Yes . Mayroon siyang tama sa sikmura, sa puson area," he said.
The PRO-COR director said Dormitorio also suffered from internal bleeding.
He added that the victim could have been repeatedly kicked and punched by the assailants since the use of a blunt instrument has already been ruled out.
"Per our medico legal, ang report ay parang walang ginamit na instrument, suspected pwedeng nasuntok o nasipa," he said.
In a joint press briefing, officials of the PMA and Philippine National Police (PNP) also confirmed that Dormitorio died of hazing.
Present in the press briefing in Baguio were PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen Ronnie Evangelista, Brig. Gen. Nestor Florente DC Rayo, PMA Assistant Superintendent, and Commandant of Cadets Bgen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.
Meanwhile, the PMA announced Friday that three upperclass cadets have been identified as “persons of interest” in relation to the death of Dormitorio.
The police official also said they have yet to determine whether Dormitorio was electrocuted as claimed by the victim's relatives.
"Subject for evaluation ng ating medico legal 'yan kasi sila makakapagsabi kung merong ganyan. As far as I know, ito lang ang nakarecord na contusions at aberations," he said.
At least three upperclassmen of Dormitorio were placed under PMA restrictive custody at the barracks and treated now as persons of interest.
Two of the persons of interest are third class cadets or second years while the other one is a first class cadet or fourth year.
"At this point in time, nasa custodial investigation or restrictive custody sila ng pamunuan ng PMA at subjected for administrative evaluation or investigation," he said.
Hazing rites have long been banned in military and police training institutions, although authorities continue to fail to completely ensure that such acts will not be carried out.
In August 2018, nine cadets from the PNP Academy were ordered dismissed in connection with the mauling of six newly graduates of the PNPA Maragtas Class of 2018 inside their barracks.
It was later revealed in a police probe that the dismissed cadets were victims of hazing by their upperclassmen so they held a grudge against them, leading to the mauling incident.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the PMA and PNP offered condolences to the bereaved family of Dormitorio.
"It is unfortunate that a life has been lost. We pledge that no stone will be left unturned. All perpetrators will be held liable to the full extent of the law," the PMA said.
On the other hand, Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, assured that the police is ready to lend technical support in investigating Dormitorio's death.
Lawmakers condemn hazing
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago on Friday condemned the purported hazing ritual that took the life Dormitorio.
"We condole with the family and friends of Darwin Dormitorio, 20, who died September 19, just 53 days after entering the Philippine Military Academy as a Cadet 4th Class and vehemently condemn the continued hazing in the Philippine Military Academy," Elago said in a statement.
"We join his parents in looking forward to an investigation into Darwin’s death. Cadets and students everywhere don’t expect deaths to happen inside schools, especially in the country’s most prestigious military academy," added the youth solon and House Minority Bloc member.
Elago said the upcoming probe ought to shed light on why a healthy and fit 20-year-old who passed PMA’s strict requirements would die due to “cardiac arrest secondary to internal hemorrhage” in less than two months as a cadet.
"We also want to know what steps authorities took when Darwin earlier complained of stomach pain and was seen vomiting hours before being found unconscious at PMA Mayo Hall Annex Room 209," she said.
Elago wondered if Dormitorio's life could have been saved if he was quickly brought to the PMA Station Hospital.
"Why wait for him to pass out and for his condition to get so worse that he could not be saved?"
"We also note media reports that PMA had placed upperclassmen and Darwin’s classmates under 'restrictive confinement' pending an investigation," she said.
"I will immediately confer with Cagayan de Oro Reps. Rolando Uy and Rufus Rodriguez on what we in Congress could do to honor Darwin and his family, and to make sure his death would be fully investigated and the perpetrators be convicted," Elago added.
Meanwhile, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Friday he is extremely saddened by the death of his fellow Kagay-anon (Cagayan).
“This is unacceptable and must be investigated immediately! We cannot turn a blind eye to this kind of violence in the country’s premier military training institution. Apparently, the situation was exacerbated by negligence in the medical treatment of this young man,” Pimentel said.
The former Senate President expressed his dismay that such an unfortunate incident still occurred despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which imposes harsher penalties on organizers and participants of hazing.
“We strongly urge the appropriate PMA Officers to bring the perpetrators to justice. We have to protect our children and future heroes from this atrocious practice,” Pimentel added. (With reports from Zaldy Commanda, Ellson Quismorio, Mario Casayuran and Andrea Aro)