If the Philippine Military Academy will have its way, the suspects in the death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio should undergo a court martial.
According to commandant of cadets Brigadier General Romeo Brawner Jr., the military school has proposed that the hazing suspects be placed under court martial proceedings so they can 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 PMA could not turn over the suspects to the police as there are no warrants of arrest issued against them.
Meanwhile, PMA spokesperson Captain Cheryl Tindog said the academy is still evaluating 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.
She added that the suspects—the two tactical officers and three PMA doctors who have also been charged, 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, Dormitorio’s family filed a complaint against the suspects involved in the death of the 20-year-old cadet.
They were identified as 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, who were charged with murder raps as well as cases for violating the Anti-Hazing and Anti-Torture laws.
The 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, as weel as for dereliction of duty.
Captain Flor Apple Apostol, Major Maria Ofelia Beloy and Lieutenant Colonel Cesar Candelaria, the physicians at the Philippine Military Academy, were also charged for dereliction of duty. Additional charges for supposedly being “accomplices” in violating the Anti-Hazing Law were were also filed against Apostol and Beloy.
But Dormitorio's family said 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 different parts of his body.
According to the Baguio Police, after months of repeated maltreatment by his fellow cadets that led to his hospitalization from Aug. 20 to 27, Dormitorio suffered his worst blows on Sept. 17 that ultimately led to his death.