Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año stressed on Tuesday that Third Class cadets — or those in second year inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) — should be monitored and guided by their squad leaders on how they handle plebes amid the death of a 20-year-old plebe due to injuries related to hazing activities.

In a television interview, Año said that it is imperative that PMA officials should monitor the second years because in a way, they are raring to get back on incoming plebes in the military academy.

The DILG secretary noted that after incorporation, the first two months has high incidence of hazing because these upperclassmen wants to instill discipline the way they were taught when they were still plebes.

Año — a former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief – however admitted that he also experienced hazing during his stint at the military school.

“During our time in the PMA, we also had that but the upperclassmen were responsible enough not to endanger the lives of the plebes,” said Año.

The DILG chief, however, underscored that physical contact is not necessary to effectively train the cadets.

“There are a lot of ways to discipline plebes to become snappy like exercise or psychological measures, but no body contact,” said Año.

Last week, Fourth Class cadet Darwin Dormitorio died after suffering from hazing injuries. Three of his upperclassmen—two Third Class and one First Class—were considered suspects in the incident.

Año said that one of the interventions that can be done to prevent such violence from occurring is to screen incoming second year cadets.