5 cadets to be charged following suspected hazing at PNPA — official

Five cadets from the Philippine National Police Academy will face charges following the alleged maltreatment incident against Cadet Fourth Class John Desiderio, according to the spokesman of the academy on Monday.

"Said identified cadets will be directed to explain within 24 hours before a formal administrative charge be filed against them," PNPA Public Information Office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Byron Allatog said in a statement.

"They will now be under isolation pending resolution of their case," Allatog added.

According to the PNPA official, investigators of the Silang Municipal Police Station already went to the victim to get his statement for the filing of criminal charges against the suspects.

Desiderio was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday due to stomach pains after undergoing suspected hazing by his upperclassmen. He was immediately taken to the PNPA dispensary and, upon the doctor’s recommendation, was transferred to the PNP Hospital and then to the East Avenue Hospital in Quezon City.

PNP office-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa said Desiderio had been discharged from the hospital and he will already return to PNPA for duty.

Asked about more details on the identities of the suspects and the charges that they will be facing, Allatog said authorities are still finalizing their report on the matter.

Gamboa earlier said the alleged maltreatment incident at the PNPA was an isolated case.

Gamboa promised that if the incident was really hazing, all involved cadets will be dismissed from the police academy.

Dormitorio's case

The PNPA incident came even as the controversy over the death of Philippine Military Academy Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio has yet to end.

On September 18, Dormitorio died after suffering from the reported maltreatment from his upperclassmen. The autopsy showed that the victim bore severe bruises in the different parts of his body.

Police investigation also bared that Dormitorio was hurt using a flashlight with a built-in taser. Authorities noted that the plebe was maltreated because of a missing combat boots.

Early this month, seven cadets were slapped with murder raps as well as cases for violating the Anti-Hazing and Anti-Torture laws in relation to the death of the 20-year-old cadet.

The suspects will undergo court martial proceedings, according to the PMA. — RSJ, GMA News