HAZING victim 4th Class Cadet Darwin Dormitorio was finally laid to rest at Oro Gardens Memorial Park Wednesday, September 25, with friends and family crying for justice.
Dormitorio was accorded full military funeral honors, including a 21-gun salute to honor the 20-year-old plebe.
Among those who gave a message during the funeral service is Dormitorio’s aunt, Jean Joselyn Dioso Año, wife of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año.
She assured that there will be no whitewash in the investigation and those responsible for his death will be brought to the folds of the law.
Mayor Omaradji Pizarro of Kalilangan town in Bukidnon urged President Rodrigo Duterte to implement the Anti-Hazing Law. He said the Mayors League of Bukidnon will pass a resolution urging the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to put a stop to hazing and other violence.
On Tuesday night, classmates and other students of Darwin held a prayer rally inside the university calling for swift justice and put the suspects behind bars.
A friend of Darwin said in an interview it is not enough that the suspects were kicked out of the PMA.
“They should be jailed for what they did to Darwin,” she said.
“He just wanted to serve the country, and this is what he gets in return? And I know jud na pure iyang intentions to help the country, even his small actions inside our classroom makita nimo unsa siya ka responsible, caring for others
She said his perceptions about the PMA being a premier military academy has completely changed.
“PMA should learn their lesson. Wala na untay masayang nga kinabuhi tungod lang sa tradition,” another close friend said.