Hazing, murder charges filed vs 7 PMA cadets

Dexter Dormitorio, the elder brother of the late Cadet Fourth Class Darwin DormitorioM officially filed cases against perpetrators of his brother’s death at the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office. (Jean Nicole Cortes)
BAGUIO CITY. Dexter Dormitorio, the elder brother of the late Cadet Fourth Class Darwin DormitorioM officially filed cases against perpetrators of his brother’s death at the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office. (Jean Nicole Cortes)
Dexter Dormitorio, the elder brother of the late Cadet Fourth Class Darwin DormitorioM officially filed cases against perpetrators of his brother’s death at the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office. (Jean Nicole Cortes) BAGUIO CITY. Dexter Dormitorio, the elder brother of the late Cadet Fourth Class Darwin DormitorioM officially filed cases against perpetrators of his brother’s death at the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office. (Jean Nicole Cortes)

DEXTER Dormitorio on Tuesday afternoon, October 8, filed complaints of hazing, murder, and torture against seven Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets tagged in the death of his brother, Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio.

“There could be more. It will depend on additional evidences that we may gather. To my brother, this is just part one. We will not stop hangga’t hindi namin napapanagot lahat. We will continue to probe and prove that there are more culprits,” Dexter added.

“Ito iyong wish ng family. As much as possible airtight [case],” he said.

The 20-year-old plebe from Cagayan de Oro died on September 18 at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as a result of hazing from his fellow cadets.

From the Baguio City Police Office, Dormitorio with his legal counsel, lawyer Jose Adrian Bonifacio, and Baguio City Police Office city director Colonel Allen Rae Co, filed the 34-page complaint which was received by Prosecutor Edwin Sagsago.

Bonifacio said they have officially filed three cases against seven cadets for violation of the anti-hazing law and or murder, and violation of the anti-torture law. Cases were also filed against two tactical officers who were considered as accomplices.

The cases was filed against Third Class cadets Shalimar Imperial, Felix Lumbag Jr., John Vincent Manalo, Julis Tadena, and Rey David Volante; Second Class cadet Christian Zacarias; First Class cadet Axl Rey Sanopao; and Tactical officers Major Rex Bolo and Captain Jeffrey Batistiana.

Cases were also filed against three medical doctors, Captain Flor Apostol, Major Ofelia Beloy, and Colonel Cesar Candelaria that include dereliction of duty as defined and punished by article 208 of the Revised Penal Code.

“We are saying na iyong tactical officers, three doctors, they tolerated the commission of the offense. Despite the fact na nakita nila minaltrato na iyong si Cadet Dormitorio, wala pa ring appropriate action. Iyon iyong sandigan natin wala silang ginawa. They in fact tolerated the commission of an offense particularly hazing and torture,” added Bonifacio.

Testimonies coming from PMA cadets who saw how the physical acts of torture and maltreatment on various dates were established in narrative facts in the complaint.

After the filing of the case, Dexter shared there was a relief on part of the family as immediate and necessary charges were filed.

“For now nangingibabaw iyong pain, pero at the same time, there is also a relief for the family because we were able to file immediate and necessary charges. We will explore other options. The battle does not stop here,” Dormitorio added.

Following the filing of the case, the prosecutors are set to evaluate the pieces of evidences presented.

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