Noelle Sophie U.

Baroman X- Tau September 26, 2019

4 cadets face expulsion, criminal raps

Author: Emmanuel Tupas , Jaime Laude  Date: September 24, 2019
Source: philstar.com (https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/09/25/1954837/4-
cadets-face-expulsion-criminal-raps )

MANILA, Philippines — With the top leadership of the Philippine Military Academy
(PMA) quitting their posts yesterday, several cadets involved in the fatal hazing of a
plebe have been kicked out.

Four of the upperclassmen involved in the fatal hazing of Darwin Dormitorio last
week were expelled yesterday from the country’s premier military institution.

This developed as the military leadership said another PMA cadet believed to be a
victim of hazing was rushed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center
(AFPMC) in Quezon City last Monday.

PMA superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro,
who both resigned yesterday, said Cadets Third Class Shalimar Imperial and Felix
Lumbag were “separated from the service” for directly assaulting Dormitorio while
Cadet First Class Axl Ray Talupao was also dismissed for encouraging the hazing.

Under the principle of command responsibility, Cadet Second Class Nikoel Termil,
Dormitorio’s direct squad leader, was also dismissed.

Cadet First Class Irvin Sayod, Platoon Leader and Echo Company Commander Cadet
First Class Elbert Lucas were suspended.

Cadet First Class Christian Correa, the class floor inspector, was meted 51 demerits,
180 punishment pulls and 180 days confinement as administrative penalties.

Senior Tactical Officer Maj. Rex Bolo and Echo Company Tactical Officer Capt.
Jeffrey Batistiana were relieved from their posts in the PMA, while the commanding
officer of the PMA Station Hospital Col. Cesar Candelaria and attending physician
Florence Apple Apostol were also relieved from their posts for purposes of
investigation.  

Dormitorio was confined at the PMA hospital twice last August complaining of
stomach pains, a medical condition the doctors simply diagnosed as urinary tract
infection.

On Wednesday last week, the unconscious Dormitorio was rushed to the same

hospital where he died from internal injuries apparently sustained during the hazing.

The PMA leadership had admitted Dormitorio died from hazing injuries.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said a classmate of Dormitorio was
brought to the AFPMC also complaining of severe stomach pain.

“He was in and out of confinement and findings were initially gastroenteritis,”
Arevalo said without identifying the cadet.

“But when he returned for another checkup due to stomach pains, there were several
markings on his body. So, possibly this is also some of maltreatment but it’s not yet
sure,” Arevalo said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said charges are being
prepared against the dismissed cadets pending statements from the complainants.

“Probably within the week we will be able to file cases against the suspects,”
Albayalde said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Albayalde mentioned the results of the autopsy examination on Dormitorio’s remains

that showed the victim succumbed from massive internal injuries.

The Baguio City police earlier said they are preparing criminal charges against the
cadets involved in the hazing.

Baguio City police chief Col. Allen Rae Co said the autopsy results matched the
statements made by some of the cadets, noting Dormitorio had been brought to
hospital a number of times for injuries.
Analysis:

Firstly, I would like to send my deepest condolence to the bereaved family of

PMA Cadet Darwin Dormitorio. Losing a son, a friend, and a brother as young as he
is not easy to accept. A Filipino youth whose dream is to serve his country in the
future. But sadly, he was not able to fulfill his dream due to the “tradition” of hazing
in his “dream school”.

This serves as a wake-up call for all of us, the Filipino youth, the future of our
country, and all of the citizens in the Philippines. Is the endurance of such injustice
what you call courage? Is faked strength what you call integrity? Is the tolerance of
such violence what you call loyalty? Do we really need to do the act of hazing to
prove a youth’s courage, integrity and loyalty? Even to the extent of killing a fellow
Filipino youth citizen? I don’t think so. Hazing is never and will never be a measure
of someone’s courage, integrity and loyalty to fight for his country.

It is really maddening to think that it is our very own formative structure that
kill us – that kill the hope of us becoming who we ought to be for our families and for
our country.

They were trained to kill the enemies of our country but instead vented their
talents on their brothers-in-arms. They started their military training with a wrong
foot. More heads should roll not only these cadets but their mentors as well and all the
medical officers (doctors and nurses) that treated hazing victims and have chosen to
keep quite instead of reporting it to the proper authorities. Those PMA doctors are
legally liable for covering up and should be sued for malpractice. Furthermore, they
should be stripped of their medical license and should be banned from medical
practice by the government. Doctors are required by law to report to law enforcement
authorities. The cadet was hospitalized several times, with all the bruises and injury
the victim had, it's foolish if doctors don't realize what's going on.

Let’s not turn a blind eye on this alarming issue. As a Filipino youth, I will not
allow for our nation’s continued negligence to be detrimental to another young
Filipino’s future. Justice must prevail- for Darwin, for the youth, and for our country.
Let’s kill the culture of hazing before it kills another innocent life. This is my
statement. Let this be yours, too.