Slammer awaits docs, cadets

Dormitorio was not properly diagnosed especially on the 17 September hospitalization.

Personalities suspected behind the death of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio including two physicians should be placed behind bars, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said.

The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) said it is readying complaints against seven cadets and two doctors of the PMA Station Hospital who were tagged in the killing of Dormitorio on 18 September.

BCPO chief Col. Allen Rae Co said those to be charged with violation of the anti-hazing law and murder are Cadet First Class (C1CL) Axl Rey Sanopao, Cadet Third Class (C3CL) Shalimar Imperial, C3CL Felix Lumbag Jr., Cadet Second Class Christian Zacarias, C3CL Julius Carlo Tadena, C3CL Rey David John Volante and C3CL John Vincent Manalo.

Capt. Flor Apple Apostol and Major Ofelia Beloy, who gave a wrong diagnosis on Dormitorio, will also be sued for criminal negligence.

“He was not properly diagnosed (referring to Dormitorio) especially on the 17 September hospitalization,” Co said.

He said the continuing investigation allowed them to weave together the testimony of the 18 people — 14 cadets and four officials, which pieced together led them to the conclusion and identification of several other suspects.

Co said they are still waiting for Dexter, the eldest brother of the deceased Dormitorio, who will represent the family as private complainants in the case.

“The family assured me that they will be here (in Baguio City) later in the week. We are ready to file the case,” the city director said.

Co also said the family is well informed of every development in the ongoing investigation pertaining to their kin’s death.

The DILG secretary said that a complaint will be filed in two days against the suspects in Dormitorio’s death.

“Two days from now, complaints will be filed with the fiscal,” Año said. “We have seen that these seven cadets had made Dormitorio’s life miserable since August.”

According to Año, the suspects were forcing Dormitorio to quit through a series of acts of torture and recounted that the cadet was confined on 20 August at the PMA Hospital after he was hazed for spending half of his allowance of P4,000 which was “supposed to be used for their needs.”

A case of hazing was reported to his tactical officer, who initiated an investigation on the incident. Some cadets tried to silence Dormitorio, but he still named the cadets who inflicted harm on him, Año said.

Then a series of torture was inflicted against Dormitorio.

Initial reports showed that Dormitorio was maltreated by his upperclassmen because of missing combat boots and information about them was based on witnesses’ accounts.

The PMA earlier identified Imperial and Lumbag as those with “direct participation” in Dormitorio’s hazing, while Sanupao allegedly “encouraged maltreatment” against the 20-year-old cadet.

They will be dismissed from the military school and will be facing cases for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.

Dormitorio was found unconscious in his room and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital last 18 September and an autopsy performed on him showed bruises on different parts of his body that were likely the result of multiple beatings.

The controversy resulted in Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista resigning as PMA superintendent. Brigadier General Bartolome Bacarro, the commandant of cadets, also quit from his post following the hazing incident.