Baguio Police verifying PMA Cadet Telan’s alleged letter detailing abuse

Baguio City Police investigators were attempting to verify the authenticity of a letter allegedly written by Philippine Military Academy 4th Class Cadet Mario Telan in which he detailed the abuses he experienced at the PMA.

“We have to verify first yung provenance ng letter dahil hindi naman tayo makapag-ano without first looking into kung saan ba nanggaling. ‘Yan ba ay isinulat ni Cadet Telan? We have to verify first,” Baguio City Police chief Colonel Allen Co told GMA News Online on Sunday.

Aside from civil liability, investigators were also looking into the possible criminal liability of two swimming instructors, Robert Bete and Antonio Catalan, who were found to be negligent in Telan's drowning death. 

On Saturday, the PMA said they hoped to be able to go through Telan's letter in order that academy officials could take the appropriate action.

According to Facebook user Jose Larry Hermoso IV, a confidante had given him Telan's alleged letter, in which the cadet recounted how he was hazed at the PMA.

"Pagpasok ni Mario Telan sa PMA, there is no shortage ng violence done towards him by the Upperclassmen. 'Pambubugbog, pagsisipa, panunuhod' and what he calls pag-cho-'chop' or yung sinusuntok ka sa leeg, sa mismong adam's apple,"  Hermoso said in an FB post.

Telan was corpse at the deep end of the PMA's pool on November 8. — Joviland Rita/DVM, GMA News