BAGUIO CITY – Seven cadets and two medical personnel of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) stand to face murder or violation of the Anti-Hazing Law for their alleged participation in the brutal murder of cadet fourth-class Darwin Dormitorio barely two weeks ago.
Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) City Director Police Col. Allen Rae F. Co said that the investigation on the death of the 20-year old cadet from Cagayan de Oro City was already completed and that probers are only awaiting the arrival of the family members and relatives of the victim for the filing of the cases against the accused before the city prosecutor’s office anytime this week.
Based on the investigation, the cadets who were involved in the death of Dormitorio included cadet third-class Shalemar Imperial, cadet third-class Felix Lumbag, cadet third-class Tadena, cadet third-class Bolante, cadet third-class Manalo, cadet second-class Zacarias and cadet first-class Axle Rey Sanopao while the PMA medical personnel who stand to face negligence include Maj. Ofelia R. Biloy and Capt. Flor Apple Apostol.
The police official claimed that Dormitorio was first confined in the PMA station hospital on August 22, 2019 after he was allegedly maltreated inside his room by cadet Lumbag and shortly after being discharged from the hospital, he was punched on the face by cadet Imperial that caused his nose to profusely bleed.
On September 6, 2019, Dormitorio was again rushed to the PMA station hospital after having been reportedly maltreated by his upperclassmen where his hospitalization was again repeated on September 14, 2019 and on the wee hours of September 18, 2019 where he was then unconscious and was pronounced dead on arrival.
Co disclosed that the 7 involved cadets are already confined in the PMA stockade under restrictive custody while the PMA medical personnel are still based inside the Academy.
According to him, the case was firmed up by the testimonies of some 14 cadets who came from different classes and 2 PMA personnel, a tactical officer and a non-commissioned officer.
Cadet Lumbag was earlier meted a punishment of one year suspension or turn back for being involved in the earlier maltreatment of Dormitorio and was declared off limits from the plebes or the fourth-class cadets but he was still able to be involved in the subsequent maltreatment of the victim.
The police official asserted that the investigators will leave the discretion on what cases to file against the identified suspects depending on the appreciation of the pieces of evidence and testimonies by the investigating prosecutor.
Supposedly, Dormitorio’s relatives were expected to arrive in the city last weekend but police officials revealed that they understand that the family is still grieving from the loss of the young cadet thus they simply prepared the documents for their review prior to the filing of the cases against the suspects.
By Dexter A. See