Ex-PMA execs charged

Seeking justice Dexter Dormitorio, brother of slain PMA Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio, shows the complaint affidavit he filed before the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office against two Army generals.

BAGUIO CITY — -Stepping down from their posts did not free two ranking officials of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) from liability in connection to the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio last September as criminal charges were filed against them on Monday.

Former PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and ex-Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro were charged with violation of the Anti-Hazing Law of 2018, Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and dereliction of duty as defined by Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code.

Evangelista and Bacarro resigned from their posts days after Dormitorio died last 18 September allegedly after being hazed by his upperclassmen inside the PMA.

Dormitorio’s brother Dexter, accompanied by their lawyer, filed the cases before the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office at the Justice Hall and received by Prosecutor Margarita Manalo.

Lawyer Adrian Jose Bonifacio, legal counsel for the Dormitorios, said the first cases filed did not include the generals due to lack of evidence.

However, Bonifacio said that they now have affidavits to back up the filing of criminal charges against Evangelista and Bacarro, both products of the PMA being members of Classes of 1985 and 1988, respectively.

The Dormitorio camp said the complaint is based on the case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)last month.

On 24 October, the NBI-Cordillera has filed a separate complaint at the city prosecutor’s office against two former PMA officials.

A total of 14 individuals were charged as of this date in connection to the death of Dormitorio.

Last 8 October, the Dormitorio family filed violation of Anti-Hazing Law, murder and Anti-Torture Law against Third Class Cadets Shalimar Imperial Jr., Felix Lumbag Jr., John Vincent Manalo, Julius Tadena, Rey David Volante; Cadet Second Class Christian Zacarias, and Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanopao.

Cases were also filed against two tactical officers Major Rex Bolo and Captain Jeffrey Batistiana, who are considered as accomplices and three PMA personnel, medical doctors Captain Flor Apostol, Major Ofelia Beloy, Colonel Cesar Almer Candelaria.