BCPO lauded for Dormitorio’s probe

PHILIPPINE National Police Chief General Oscar Albayalde expressed satisfaction in the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-COR) on the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio who died due to maltreatment inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

In his visit to PRO-COR for the 118th Police Service Anniversary at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet, Albayalde said they are still awaiting for the victim’s family to formally file criminal charges against the perpetrators.

“We are satisfied and in fact there are many things coming out from the investigation, and many are coming out to talk about the incident aside from the increasing numbers of victims of hazing in relation with the case of the late Cadet Dormitorio,” Albayalde said.

BCPO, which is currently nearing the final stages of the ongoing investigation, earlier stated the filing of criminal cases against three cadets identified as Cadets 3rd class Shalimar Imperial and Felix Lumbag and Cadet 1st class Axl Rey Sanupao in violation of the anti-hazing law.

“As of this time and as far as I know, the case have still not been filed because I think they are waiting for the family and we are giving them space before they would file the case as per the family’s request after the burial of the victim,” Albayalde stated.

When asked if hazing should also be discarded at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Albayalde added this act should be a thing of the past and that hazing has no place not only in both military and police educational institutions, but in society as well.

“While we senior officers admit during our time that we were hazed, even if you ask General Isagani Nerez who is from Baguio and who was my squad leader which I do not have any ill feelings against him, because it is on the perception of the person. And I am not saying that I am promoting hazing. No! Hazing has no place in society anymore because we are in a modern day now and there are several ways of punishing a cadet even during our time,” Albayalde explained.

The PNP chief disclosed that based on the letter allegedly written by Dormitorio, it stated that it started as an exercise which apparently went out of control. The letter is a part of the ongoing investigation which will be determined soon.

“It’s different when you are made to exercise and you are being whacked physically are two different things. But what came out from the autopsy findings on Dormitorio was that there was a blunt object that hit his abdomen. So there must be something hard that hit his body which will not come from exercises,” Albayalde added.

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