Solon says PMMA cadet case not yet closed, wants probe

Agusan del Norte Representative Lawrence Fortun on Friday said he will file a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry into the death of a Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) cadet.

Fortun issued the remark after he supposedly heard that the Philippine National Police Zambales provincial director is considering the case closed.

“Because of this unwelcome surprising development, I am constrained to file a Resolution calling for a congressional inquiry into this matter to ferret out the truth and introduce appropriate legislation to put an end to this culture of violence,” he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Cadet Fourth Class Jonas Bondoc was found dead in a comfort room in the PMMA barracks.

“Declaring this early the killing of PMMA Cadet 4CL Jonash Bondoc as case closed is highly irregular. Where is the investigation report… Let the public, those concerned, especially the family of the victim, see that report,” he said.

“If there is no such complete investigation report, then there is no point in declaring this case closed.  That would certainly be premature and highly irregular. Dalawang araw lang, case closed na?” he added

Fortun said that blaming everything to the suspect, identified as Cadet Third Class Jomel Gloria, would remove other possible conspirators from the picture.

He said that this included the “possible negligence on the part of certain officials and the probability that the incident was part of a regular practice or tradition accepted as an open secret in the school.”

Complaints have been filed against Gloria.

Fortun has also asked the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the incident.

“This premature and hastened declaration by the Provincial Director all the more reinforces the urgency of the intervention of the NBI in the conduct of an independent and impartial investigation on the matter,” he said.

“We appeal to the Department of Justice to have the NBI lead a separate and independent investigation,” he added.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News