PMA wants suspects in Dormitorio death to undergo court martial proceedings

Philippine Military Academy commandant of cadets Brigadier General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said the military school wants the suspects in the death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio to be placed under court martial proceedings.

Brawner told reporters the cadets charged over Dormitorio's death are still under PMA custody since they have yet to be formally discharged from the academy.

"Para ma-discharge sila, nagpropose kami na magkaroon ng general court martial sila sa military so we still have custody," he said.

Brawner said the suspects were not yet turned over to the police as there are no warrants of arrest yet against them.

In a separate interview, PMA spokesperson Captain Cheryl Tindog said the evaluation is ongoing on whether the suspects would undergo court martial proceedings.

"Ongoing kasi 'yung ano natin 'di ba may mga investigation pa 'yan eh... fact-finding mga ganoon..." Tindog said.

Asked about the status of the two tactical officers and three PMA doctors who have also been charged, Tindog said they were all placed under the holding area.

"Meron tayong unit sa Armed Forces of the Philippines na naghohold sa kanila para ano po... wala muna silang hinohold na positions right now... nandoon lang sila sa holding unit ng Armed Forces para i-facilitate 'yung participation nila doon sa kaso," Tindog explained.

On Tuesday, the bereaved family of Dormitorio filed a complaint against the suspects involved in the death of the 20-year-old cadet.

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.

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.

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. — RSJ, GMA News