The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) urged the public Tuesday to continue placing its trust in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as an institution amid the recently reported hazing incident at the campus.
Speaking to reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the PMA as a professional organization remains “steadfastly committed to the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and excellence in the service of our country.”
Padilla assured Filipinos that the “safety, well-being, and holistic development” of military cadets remain a “top priority” for the AFP.
“PMA is unwavering in its commitment to providing quality education and training, and to developing principled and competent leaders who will honorably serve the Armed Forces of the Philippines and our nation,” she noted.
Last September 2024, a freshman cadet of PMA was physically “harmed” inside their barracks, but all his assailants have already been “punished” by the military.
The incident only came to light recently when the victim, who after months of treatment was only discharged from hospital in June, filed a police complaint against those involved in the hazing incident, prompting both the PMA and the AFP to acknowledge that it happened.
Padilla, however said the military has not seen a copy of the police report or formal complaint regarding this incident.
“Such acts have no place in our institution, and we remain resolute in our commitment to safeguarding the well-being and holistic development of our cadets,” PMA Spokesperson Lt. Jesse Nestor Saludo told the Manila Standard.
Following an internal investigation, two first-year cadets were found guilty of physically harming a classmate. They have been suspended from training for one year in accordance with the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) regulations.
A third-year cadet who served as the squad leader was also penalized under the principle of command responsibility for failing to prevent the abuse. He received 60 demerits, 120 touring hours, and 120 days of confinement.
Another upper class cadet implicated in the case, meanwhile, was cleared of any wrongdoing after the investigation found no evidence linking him to the incident.
