4 PMA cadets considered suspects in alleged hazing —Baguio Police

The Baguio City Police has identified four cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as suspects in an alleged hazing incident involving a fellow cadet within the school grounds. 

In a report provided on Sunday, the Baguio City Police said two of the suspects are 4th Class cadets, while the other two are 1st Class and 2nd Class cadets.

Based on its investigation, police said the victim, a 4th class cadet, allegedly experienced “physical abuse and humiliation” from Sept. 2-29, 2024.

It noted that the “acts of maltreatment were not isolated but were carried out regularly inside the barracks.”

These alleged physical abuses, which the complainant noted as “animalistic tripping,” include punches and excessive physical training, which caused him to collapse due to exhaustion.

After allegedly receiving a heavy punch on Sept. 29, 2024, the victim nearly lost consciousness and was admitted to a hospital in Quezon City, where he underwent medical and psychological treatment.

“He was admitted for recovery in October and remained hospitalized until mid-December,” PMA public information office’s Lieutenant Jesse Saludo told GMA News Online.

"He was admitted to Fort Del Pilar Station Hospital (PMA Station Hospital), then evacuated [V. Luna General Hospital] for further evaluation. Then he returned back to PMA Station Hospital on October 18 and stayed there until mid-December,” he added.

After this, Saludo said the cadet returned to duty.

Saludo clarified that the cadet was hospitalized again in March this year, but this was not related to the injuries he sustained from the September 2024 incident.

“Sometime in March, he was hospitalized again; however, I would like to emphasize, sir, that this was due to a condition unrelated to the injuries sustained in September,” he said.

“While I would like to provide more information regarding his recent hospitalization, we are to strictly abide by the provisions of the Data Privacy Act in order to respect and protect his personal health information,” he added.

The cadet was discharged on June 30.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment on the matter.

The PMA meanwhile said the four cadets have been punished for hurting their classmate but the reported incident was not considered as “hazing.”

Saludo said the cadets faced punishments based on the degree of their participation in the incident.

PMA public information office’s Lieutenant Jesse Saludo said the cadets faced punishments based on the degree of their participation in the incident.

“The involved cadets were given appropriate punishments depending on the degree of their participation,” Saludo said in a report of Marisol Abdurahman on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita on Monday.

“The PMA has a strict, zero tolerance on maltreatment and hazing, and such acts have no place in the institution,” he added.

However, contrary to the complaint of the victim, Saludo said the incident does not fall under the definition of hazing in the Anti-Hazing Act. —KG/ VAL, GMA Integrated News