Dormitorio kin files raps vs 2 ex-PMA officials

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Former Philippine Military Academy (PMA) chief Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and former commandant of cadets Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro are facing a new set of charges in connection with the fatal hazing of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.

Darwin’s older brother Dexter filed charges against Evangelista and Bacarro as accomplices to violation of the Anti-Hazing Law and principal accused to violation of the Anti-Torture Law and dereliction of duty before the Baguio prosecutor’s office yesterday.

The Dormitorios claimed they have found evidence on the inaction of the two former PMA officials even though they were informed of the maltreatment that Darwin suffered from his upperclasmen since August.

Darwin died on Sept. 18 shortly after he was brought to a hospital due to injuries he suffered.

Jose Adrian Bonifacio, counsel for the Dormitorio family, said the charges were based on an earlier case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Evangelista and Bacarro.  

NBI probers said the two former officials did not take appropriate action or investigate reports of torture and hazing at the institution.  

Hazing, torture and murder charges had been earlier filed by the Dormitorio family against Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanupao, Cadet 2nd Class Christian Zacarias and Cadets 3rd Class Rey David John Volante, Julius Carlo Tadena, John Vincent Manalo, Felix Lumbag Jr. and Shalimar Imperial. 

The Dormitorios also filed charges against senior tactical officer Maj. Rex Bolo and Echo Company tactical officer Capt. Jeffrey Batistiana as accomplices to the crimes.