PMA hazing death: 2 cadets guilty of physical injuries

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines — Two cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) have been found guilty of physical injuries in connection with the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio in 2019.

Julius Carlo Tadena was found guilty of less serious physical injuries while Christian Zacarias was convicted of slight physical injuries, Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 1 Judge Roberto Mabalot said in his ruling.

The two cadets were sentenced to 30 days in prison and ordered to each pay the family of Dormitorio P100,000 in moral damages and P50,000 in attorney’s fee.

Tadena, who was accused of inflicting second degree burns with a taser on Dormitorio, is still facing charges of hazing.

Zacarias was charged with serious physical injuries for allegedly kicking Dormitorio in the head.

Meanwhile, the court acquitted PMA doctors Capt. Flor Apple Apostol, Maj. Maria Ofelia Beloy and Lt. Col. Caesar Candelaria of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

The three had been accused of failing to provide appropriate treatment to Dormitorio during the four times in two months that he was hospitalized.

The murder charges against the three military doctors had earlier been dropped.

Dormitorio was found unconscious in a room at the PMA’s Mayo Hall on Sept. 17, 2019. He died while being treated at the PMA Hospital the next day.

Autopsy results showed Dormitorio died due to blunt force trauma.

Investigation showed that Dormitorio was a victim of hazing and that he was beaten up because he lost a pair of combat boots a senior cadet had entrusted to him.

The relatives of Dormitorio filed hazing, torture and murder charges against First Class Cadet Axl Rey Sanupao, 2nd Class Cadet Zacarias and 3rd Class Cadets Rey David John Volante, John Vincent Manalo, Felix Lumbag Jr., Shalimar Imperial and Tadena.

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.