PMA welcomes prosecutors ruling on cadet’s death

June 25, 2020

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) welcomes the resolution of the Baguio City prosecutor's office on the case of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.

"The PMA welcomes with high hopes the development on the Cadet 4CL Dormitorio case emanating from the resolution released by the Baguio City Prosecutor's Office," said Maj. Cherryl Tindog, PMA spokesperson, on Thursday.

"Rest assured that the Academy will continue to support and comply with any court order should we be required to appear, bring documents, or testify," she said.

"The PMA is in solidarity with the nation in continually praying for justice to be served. We shall continue also to implement the necessary reforms and interventions we have been doing so far in order to prevent these kind of tragedy from happening again and to end all violations of our regulations for a better PMA," she added.

The resolution recommends the indictment of two cadets and three officials of PMA station hospital for murder.

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, said the military looks at the "development with optimism that the wheels of justice grind for all of those involved in the case."

"We are committed to assist in the dispensation of justice. We are as keenly interested as the parents of the late Cadet Darwin Dormitorio, the community of PMA Alumni-active and retired—and the Filipino nation are in ensuring that justice is served," he said.

Arevalo also assures that the AFP "will provide what assistance that the courts will require for the trial."

"Separate and distinct from the prosecution of the cases in a civil court, the AFP has instituted the filing of cases against six cadets for violation of Article of War 97 Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline," he said.

"But more than the filing of cases to eliminate hazing from the Academy, holistic measures were adopted  by PMA to stop the malpractice. Segregation of cadets by class by building is one of them," he added. Robina Asido/DMS