PMA superintendent resigns amid hazing death

Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista has resigned as superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) following the death of a cadet due to hazing inside the academy.

Evangelista announced his resignation at a press briefing in Baguio City on Tuesday, according to James Agustin's report on Dobol B sa News TV.

JUST IN: Lt Gen Ronnie Evangelista, nag-resign na bilang PMA Superintendent matapos makumpleto ang administrative investigation ng PMA kaugnay ng pagkamatay ni Cadet Dormitorio. | @_jamesJA pic.twitter.com/RrWv0cN5IO

— GMA News (@gmanews) September 24, 2019

In a separate statement, Evangelista said all the reports for administrative and criminal cases are now finished and prosecution procedures has commenced.

"It is now the proper time for me as the head of this institution together with the commandant of cadets to relinquish our respective positions," he said. "I have already tendered my resignation to the Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines."

He added: "I will do all that is left to be done while I wait for the official orders. As I resign my post, it is now up to the proper authority to decide on the finality of the case."

Evangelista is confident that he had faced the issue squarely and did not leave the post in the middle of the crisis.

Evangelista's resignation came a day after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo called for it.

"He should [resign]. If I were the superintendent and I will not know what is happening in the academy, then I have no business staying in my position," Panelo had said in a television interview.

In Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces spokesman Marine Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said Brigadier General Bartolome Bacarro, the commandant of cadets, has also resigned from his post.

The PMA is currently investigating the hazing-related death of 20-year-old PMA Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio, who was found unconscious in his room and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital last September 18.

The PMA confirmed days later that he had died of hazing. His body reportedly bore bruises.

Major Reynan Afan, acting chief of the PMA public affairs office, said they have the list of personnel who will be investigated in connection with the alleged hazing.

Baguio City police are readying charges against three cadets who were identified as suspects. Two of them are 3rd Class cadets, the other one a 1st Class.

Other cadets are under restrictive confinement pending investigation.

Two PMA officers have been relieved from their posts following Dormitorio's death.

The military school said it would file administrative charges and sanction all those who will be found responsible for the cadet's death. —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News