THE family of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio formally filed cases against the perpetrators of his death allegedly due to maltreatment inside the Philippine Military Academy.
Dexter Dormitorio, brother of Darwin, through the legal counsel and representatives of the legal department of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), collaborated in preparing the documents for the filing of the complaint to the City Prosecutor’s Office against seven cadets, three doctors, three tactical officers including two generals implicated in the compliant.
Police Colonel Allen Rae Co, Baguio City Police Office city director, is hopeful the case will be pursued once filed in the court.
“Complete na po ang investigation na ating ginawa. What we’re doing now is collating with their private counsel finalizing kung anong kaso and ifa-file based on the testimonies of the witnesses,” said Co.
Possible cases filed, according to Co, are violation of the anti-hazing law, murder, and or violation of the anti-torture law.
Based on the initial investigation of the police, around 1 a.m. of September 18, Cadet Dormitorio started vomiting inside their barracks and was complaining of a stomach ache.
At 4 a.m., he was seen unconscious and was observed to be stiff by his barracks mate who then brought Dormitorio to the PMA Station Hospital but was later pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. of the same date by Captain Florence Apple Apostol, with the initial cause of death to be cardiac arrest secondary to internal hemorrhage.
Based on the timeline presented by the BCPO, Dormitorio’s ordeal in the hands of his tormentors started as early as August 19.
He was punched, kicked, and electrocuted by several persons.