7 PMA cadets, 2 tactical officers, 3 doctors charged for Dormitorio’s fatal hazing
MANILA, Philippines — The family of Darwin Dormitorio and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) filed Tuesday complaints against seven suspects in the fatal hazing of the 20-year-old cadet at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
Cases for murder and for violation of the Anti-Hazing and Anti-Torture laws were filed before the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office against Cadet 1st Class Axl Rey Sanopao; Cadets 3rd Class Shalimar Imperial, Felix Lumbag Jr., Julius Carlo Tadena, John Vincent Manalo, and Rey David John Volante; and Cadet 2nd Class Christian Zacarias, according to a document sent to INQUIRER.net by Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, director of the Police Regional Office Cordillera.
Baguio police director Col. Allan Rae Co said two of their tactical officers and three military physicians were likewise named respondents in the complaints. The PMA officials in the complaint were identified as Maj. Rex Bolo, Capt. Jeffrey Batistiana, Capt. Flor Apple Apostol, Capt. Maria Ofelia Beloy, and Lt. Col. Cesar Candelaria.
“The case was filed by BCPO as the public complainant and the family as private complainant,” Co told INQUIRER.net in a separate interview.
The seven cadets were allegedly involved in the maltreatment of Dormitorio as early as August 19 and until his death at the PMA station hospital on September 18.
Sanopao, Imperial, and Lumbag were earlier ordered dismissed from the PMA.
Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has said the discharge orders against the suspects are already in place and just awaiting confirmation from the Office of the President. It was not clear though if the remaining four cadets will also be discharged from the state’s premier military school.
Meanwhile, the five PMA personnel were charged for dereliction of duty that led to the plebe’s death, including the doctors who treated Dormitorio for urinary tract infection before he died from what turned out to be internal injuries.
In its timeline of Dormitorio’s month-long suffering within the halls of PMA, the police said it was Sanopao who allegedly ordered Imperial and Lumbag – both squadmates of Dormitorio – to subject the fourth-class cadet to hazing in the morning of September 17 due to a missing pair of combat boots.
READ: UPDATED TIMELINE: More details of Dormitorio’s ‘hell’ days at PMA
Volante, who was not aware that Dormitorio was in sick-in-quarters status, then allegedly “slightly kicked” Dormitorio on the forehead since he thought the plebe was only acting to be in pain. During this incident, Dormitorio had just been discharged from the hospital and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.
Tadena then allegedly tasered Dormitorio on his genitals and another fourth-class cadet at 10:45 p.m. that day. /kga