Malacañang yesterday disclosed that President Duterte was outraged by the death of a plebe Philippine Military Academy cadet from hazing last week and assured justice for the family of the victim.
The Philippine National Police had earlier confirmed that the 20-year-old victim, Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio, died from hazing and three fellow cadets are persons of interest in the case.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte was angry about what happened because hazing is an oppressive act.
“Siyempre galit siya sa nangyayari. Alam mo si Presidente, he’s one man who’s always outraged by any kind of oppression and hazing is an oppressive act,” he said. “Kasi sinasaktan mo, intentional. Murder nga ang dating ‘pag namatay. Siyempre ayaw niya ‘yun,” he added.
Panelo said the President has not issued any directive to authorities because they know what to do to get to the bottom of the issue. “Hindi naman siya kailangan mag-directive pa. Alam na nila ang dapat nilang gawin ‘pag nagkaroon ng ganitong insidente,” he said.
Panelo assured justice for the Dormitorio family. “We will prosecute those people behind. Hindi pwede ‘yun,” he said.
He said that PMA superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista should step down from his post immediately because of the incident.
“If I were the boss, how can I be staying minute longer in my office if I don’t know what’s happening in my office? You are the superintendent of the PMA tapos may hazing pa diyan, bakit hindi mo alam ‘yan? Bakit hindi mo ma-stop?” he said.
The three persons of interest have been considered as suspects, the PMA said yesterday.
“Per coordination with the Philippine National Police, the current ongoing investigations reveal that three cadets can already be classified as suspects,” the PMA said.
Two more cadets have been identified as new persons of interest while nine others have been considered witnesses.
The senior tactical officer and company tactical officer of Dormitorio, both military men and academy officers with a rank of major and captain respectively, have been relieved from their posts to pave way for an impartial investigation.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to join the investigation on Dormitorio’s death.
Guevarra, in Department Order No. 503, told the NBI that it has been “directed and granted authority to conduct an investigation and case build-up on the hazing of PMA Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio that resulted in his death on 18 September 2019 in Baguio City…”
The Justice Secretary also instructed the NBI that “if evidence warrants, to file the appropriate charges against persons found responsible therefor.” (Argyll Geducos, Martin Sadongdong, and Jeffrey Damicog)
