Dormitorio kin files raps vs. suspects in Darwin’s death

The bereaved family of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio has filed charges against the suspects involved on the death of the 20-year-old cadet before the Baguio’s Office of the City Prosecutor on Tuesday afternoon.

This was confirmed to GMA News Online by Baguio City Police chief Police Colonel Allen Co.

The seven suspects, identified as Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanopao, Cadet Second Class Christian Zacarias, Cadet Third Class Shalimar Imperial, Cadet Third Class Felix Lumbag, Cadet Third Class Julius Carlo Tadena, Cadet Third Class Rey David John Volante and Cadet Third Class John Vincent Manalo were slapped with murder raps as well as cases for violating the Anti-Hazing and Anti-Torture laws.

Tactical officers identified as Major Rex Bolo and Captain Jeffrey Batistiana were also charged as "accomplices" in violating the Anti-Hazing Law and "principals" in violating the Anti-Torture Law. They were also charged for dereliction of duty.

As stated in the complaint-affidavit, the dereliction of duty was for the violation of Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code for tolerating the commission of the offenses by failing to promptly report the same to the authorities without conducting further investigation and assessment of the worsening condition of Dormitorio.

Captain Flor Apple Apostol, Major Maria Ofelia Beloy and Lieutenant Colonel Cesar Candelaria, physicians at the Philippine Military Academy, were also charged for dereliction of duty.

Charges for supposedly being "accomplices" in violating the Anti-Hazing Law were slapped against Apostol and Beloy.

Meanwhile, Dormitorio's family believed that the three doctors should all be indicted as "accessories" in violating the Anti-Torture Law.

Dormitorio was declared dead on arrival at the hospital on September 18. The autopsy showed that the victim bore severe bruises in the different parts of his body.

Dormitorio was also hurt using a flashlight with built-in taser.

Police investigation also revealed that his upperclassmen had been mistreating him since August.

A timeline, released by the Baguio Police, indicated that after months of repeated maltreatment by his fellow cadets that led to his hospitalization from August 20 to 27, Dormitorio suffered his worst blows on September 17.

It was also found out that the plebe was hurt by his upperclassmen because of a missing combat boots.

Due to the unfortunate incident, the new leadership of the military school has vowed to wage a war against hazing, noting that maltreatment has no place inside the PMA.

Jail them

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año had said the cadets suspected to be behind the death of Dormitorio should be put in jail.

“Tama lang talaga na sampahan natin ng kaso ito. At kailangan makulong ang mga ito,” Año had said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

“Nakita nating yung pitong kadete na ito talagang sila yung halos nagpahirap sa buhay ni Dormitorio simula pa noong Agosto,” he added.

According to Año, the suspects were forcing Dormitorio to quit through a series of torture.

Colonel William Dormitorio, Darwin’s father, belongs to the PMA Class 1974. —LDF, GMA News