BAGUIO CITY — Negligence by the swimming instructors of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is being seen as a big factor leading to the death of Cadet Fourth Class Mario Telan Jr., who drowned in the PMA swimming pool last Friday.

This was according to Baguio Police Col. Allen Rae Co following the incident, the third death in the prestigious military school this year, while investigations have pointed to no signs of foul play in the initial findings.

Co said they are going to pursue criminal charges against two swimming instructors and one of the upperclassmen, adding they could be criminally liable for negligence.

The police have not yet released the names of the people being charged.

No evidence was seen in the CCTV footages installed in the swimming pool of the military facility that Telan was pushed or drowned by somebody, with Co adding that Telan dived into the pool himself prior to his death.

On 8 November 2019, Telan’s lifeless body was found around 2:44 p.m. by upperclass cadets at the bottom of the swimming pool. The plebe was rushed to the Fort Del Pilar Hospital inside the facility and was declared dead on arrival by attending physician.