THE Baguio City Regional Trial Court Branch 5 ordered the transfer of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets pinned to the death of cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio in 2019.
The court ordered the Baguio prosecutors to respond to the motion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines until July 30 to retain custody of cadets Shalimar Imperial Jr., Felix Lumbag Jr. and Julius Carlo Tadena, otherwise, the three cadets are set to be detained at the Baguio City Jail.
Since January, the PMA no longer held custody of the cadets as they were transferred to the stockade of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Lawyer and Chief Inspector Paul Balag-ey, Baguio City Jail warden, said on Friday, July 31, that since January, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has been preparing for the possible arrival of the PMA cadets
To date, there are 309 total number of male inmates at the city jail.
"Iyong mga cadete na-accused sa Darwin Dormitorio case, the latest information we got is that the Armed Forces of the Philippines appealed to the courts for the continued custody of the accused. Wala pa sa amin iyong mga kadete," Balag-ey said, adding there will be no special treatment if the cadets arrive at the BJMP.
On July 7, Presiding Judge Maria Ligaya Itliong-Rivera of the RTC Branch 5 in Baguio City issued warrant of arrest for cadets Lumbag, Tadena and Imperial, who were charged with violations of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act.
In another arrest warrant, Imperial Jr. and Lumbag Jr. were also charged with murder, including Captain Flor Apple Apostol, Major Maria Ofelia Beloy and Lieutenant Colonel Ceasar Candelaria, all three from the Fort del Pilar Station Hospital at PMA.
Rivera indicated no bail for Imperial Jr., Lumbag Jr., and Tadena while Apostol, Beloy and Candelaria have a fixed bail of P200,000 each.
Previously, the three Baguio City prosecutors in-charge of the Dormitorio case recommended for Imperial Jr., Lumbag Jr., and Tadena to be prosecuted and indicted for Hazing.
In the 66-page resolution, prosecutors also recommended for Imperial Jr., Lumbag Jr. and Captain Apostol, Major Beloy and Lieutenant Colonel Candelaria be prosecuted and indicted for murder.
Tadena is also indicted for less serious physical injuries and for 2CL Christian Zacarias prosecuted and indicted for slight physical injuries.
Charges against 1CL Axl Rey Sanopao, 3CL Rey David John Volante, 3CL John Vincent Manalo, Major Rex Bolo, Captain Jeffrey Batistiana and former PMA Officials Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista and Brigadier General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro were recommended to be dismissed for lack of probable cause.