House leader urges Duterte to recall Bacarro’s appointment as SolCom chief

Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez is urging President Rodrigo Duterte to recall the appointment of Major General Bartolome Bacarro as replacement of Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr., who is set to retire this month.

Rodriguez pointed out that Bacarro’s new appointment is an injustice to his constituent, Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio of the Philippine Military Academy, who died due to hazing in September 2019.

“Mr. Bacarro is one of those responsible for the death by hazing of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Darwin Dormitorio on Sept. 18, 2019. Darwin was a constituent of mine in Cagayan de Oro,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

“These developments are a grave injustice to my late constituent, his family and the people of Cagayan de Oro City,” he added.

But Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana defended Bacarro’s designation.

“Major General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro went through a rigorous selection process by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Board of Generals and found fit to assume a higher position in the AFP,” Lorenzana said in a statement.

“The Department of National Defense is confident that Major General Bacarro's expertise and mettle in internal security operations will greatly help in the AFP's mission to secure our communities in Southern Luzon,” he added.

Lorenzana said those responsible for the death of Dormitorio are now facing criminal charges and “it would be an injustice to Major General Bacarro if he is prevented from moving up in the ladder of command for something that he did not commit.”

Bacarro, a Medal of Valor awardee, was the commandant of cadets when the unfortunate incident happened. He resigned from his post together with then-PMA superintendent Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista.

The Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office cleared Bacarro and Evangelista from criminal charges due to lack of probable cause. Only the PMA cadets, former hospital chief and two doctors were slapped with charges due to Dormitorio’s death.

Rodriguez said the Anti-Hazing Law should placed great responsibility for any hazing incidents and irregularities on those who have supervision over such activities.

Bacarro will assume his new post on July 26, according to Lorenzana. His appointment paper was signed on June 28. — RSJ, GMA News