Two civilian swimming instructors of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City were punished over the drowning of a plebe two weeks ago.
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., an Isabela native, on Nov. 8.
Capt. Cherrly Tindog, PMA spokesperson, said Bete, a regular employee of the PMA, 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 barred from taking civil service examinations.
On the other hand, Catalan, a job order employee, was immediately terminated by the PMA. He has also been recommended to the Civil Service Commission for cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and barred 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 has been forwarded to higher headquarters, Tindog said. “The PMA is committed to leaving no stone unturned on the case of Cadet 4th Class Telan, and will continue to institute measures for the safety of all cadets so that this tragic incident will not be repeated,” she stressed. (Martin Sadongdong)
