AFP eyes third party to end PMA hazing

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is seeking help from academe and other possible stakeholders in its ongoing review of the policies of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in a bid to put an end to the hazing problem in the military school.

Such move seeks to find and put into place long-term solutions to current issues hounding the academic institution, according to AFP chief Lt. Gen. Noel Clement.

“The programs that have to be reviewed are already ongoing. We might get third party people that can help us look into what systems have to be changed in the PMA,” Clement told reporters yesterday.

“What we want to change is not only how we train our cadets but probably even how the officers that are assigned there perform their respective duties inasfar as training the cadets are concerned,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Clement added that new commanders have been installed and have been ordered to mainly focus on the cases to be filed against those responsible for the fatal hazing of cadet Darwin Dormitorio.

The AFP chief said at least 12 are undergoing investigation for various degrees of possible liability for the alleged maltreatment of Dormitorio and four other cadets who were hospitalized.