PMA doctors, cadets in hazing death ordered arrested

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A court in this city has ordered the arrest of three former cadets and three doctors at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) who were indicted for the death of 4th class cadet Darwin Dormitorio last year. 

Regional Trial Court Branch 3 Judge Maria Ligaya Itliong-Rivera issued the arrest warrant for former cadets Felix Lumbag Jr., Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Julius Carlo Tadena as well as former PMA Station Hospital chief Lt. Col. Ceasar Candelaria and medical officers Maj. Ma. Ofelia Beloy and Capt. Flor Apple Apostol.

 The court recommended bail of P200,000 each for Candelaria, Beloy and Apostol. No bail was recommended for the other accused.

Baguio City police director Col. Allen Rae Co said the three cadets, who had been discharged from the Corps of Cadets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would be transferred from a stockade area at Camp Aguinaldo to the Baguio City jail.

The Baguio City prosecutor’s office indicted Imperial and Lumbag for hazing and murder last month.

Tadena was charged with hazing and less serious physical injuries while cadet Christian Zacarias was indicted for slight physical injuries.

Candelaria, Apostol and Beloy were charged with murder.

The complaints filed against PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, former commandant of cadets Brig. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro and three other former cadets were dismissed for lack of probable cause.

AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said they have yet to receive a copy of the arrest warrants even as he gave assurance that the Judge Advocate General would attend to the matter and give appropriate recommendations to AFP chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr.

“We will cooperate and when needed, assist in the swift dispensation of justice. We owe it to the people, especially to the parents of the late Cadet Darwin Dormitorio and the community of PMA Alumni,” Arevalo said. Michael Punongbayan