Darwin told PMA of ‘punishment’ because he overspent allowance

Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio told the Philippine Military Academy how he was beaten up by his supposed buddies among upperclassmen because he had already spent half of his allowance meant for a certain period of time.

According to James Agustin's report on "24 Oras", Dormitorio in his own handwriting said he was made to do painful and strenuous exercises and, when he repeatedly fell to the floor, he was punched more than once in his ribs.

"19 Aug 2019 about 2100H in the evening. The 4th class of Echo Company he told to signify the allowance in order to track the allowance spending of plebes," the letter read.

"I already spent half of my allowance and it was an offense to my buddies namely Cadet Imperial, Cadet Lumbag" it added in apparent reference to Cadets Third Class Shalimar Imperial and Felix Lumbag Jr.

"I fell from bridge under bunk many times and hit the floor many times. Cadet Lumbag was very angry and made me raise my arm up high and punched me in the body in the rib part. I was hit a few times more after," the letter read.

Dormitorio wrote the letter while the PMA was investigating his confinement at the hospital between August 20 and 27.

Police investigators said Lumbag had already been recommended for a one-year suspension and was even told to stay away from the plebes particularly Dormitorio.

“One of our suspects, si Cadet Lumbag, was already recommended for one-year suspension but sadly, before it was enforced, ‘yun nga, he was declared off-limits to plebes especially kay Cadet Dormitorio," Baguio City chief of police Police Colonel Allen Rae Co.

"But again, Cadet Lumbag violated said provision,” he added.

According to sworn statements from 14 witnesses, Dormitorio once again suffered a beating at the hands of upperclassmen over a missing pair of boots on September 17, a day before he died.

Charges are being readied against the three cadets in connection with this incident.

Police announced that two more cadets have been identified as suspects on Thursday.

According to the investigations, two unnamed 3rd class cadets beat up Dormitorio on the night of September 17.

“We closed all the windows nung mga oras na kailangan natin malaman. We traced each and every minute the last hours of the life of Cadet Dormitorio,” Co said.

Police said Dormitorio was not only hit in the head by upperclassmen but also electrocuted in his genitals.

The suspects also used a flashlight taser to inflict pain on Dormitorio.

Five of the cadets who will be facing charges for violating the Anti-Hazing Law are now in the custody of the police. —Julia Mari Ornedo/NB, GMA News