Two civilian swimming instructors of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) were punished over the drowning of a plebe two weeks ago, the academy announced on Friday.
Instructors Robert Bete and Antonio Catalan were found “negligent and imprudent” in the conduct of the course “Fundamentals of Swimming”, which led to the drowning of Cadet Fourth Class Mario Telan Jr. on November 8.
Captain Cherrly Tindog, PMA spokesperson, said Bete, a regular employee of the Command, has been recommended for dismissal from the service with penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and from taking civil service examinations.
Meanwhile, Catalan, a job-order employee, was immediately terminated by the PMA. The academy also recommended to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) the cancellation of his eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and from taking civil service exams.
Tindog said the sanctions were based on Rule 10, Section 46 of the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service i.e. for Gross Neglect of Duty.
The two swimming instructors were earlier subjected for an administrative investigation after it was found out that they were not present in the pool area at the time of the swimming class when Telan drowned.
The punishment of the two swimming instructors were already forwarded to the Higher Headquarters, Tindog said.
“The PMA is committed to leaving no stone unturned on the case of Cadet 4Class Telan and will continue to institute measures for the safety of all cadets so that this tragic incident will not be repeated,” she stressed.
On the other hand, the sanctions on two fourth class cadets, who were the cadet marchers, and the head of the PMA Sports and Physical Development Unit were still being “thoroughly deliberated upon” as Tindog vowed it will be immediately implemented once finalized.
A cadet marcher is responsible for the accounting of his classmates before and after every activity, including the swimming lessons.
Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) noted that the cadet marchers failed to conduct an accounting of the class after the swimming lessons.
Telan’s absence in the class’ next activity would have been noticed earlier had an accounting was held after the swimming lesson, said Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Tindog said the swimming classes of the cadets in all levels remain suspended until all safety measures have been covered and are in place.
The PMA was also arranging for the assignment of a team from the Philippine Navy Special Operations Group to be part of all water-borne training activities of the cadets, she added.
Telan was found dead at the deep end of the academy’s 15-foot deep pool after he failed to surface during a diving session with his fellow cadets.
His body was discovered after his classmates noticed his absence during their next activity, prompting authorities to search for him.
The Baguio police, which led the investigation of the incident, earlier ruled out foul play in the incident.
Telan was the third cadet to have perished in the academy in two months, following the hazing death of his batchmate Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio on September 18, and the death of Cadet Second Class Cedrick Gadia due to esophageal cancer on October 28. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
