Court orders PMA doctors, cadets in hazing-slay nabbed

 Military intervenes in PMA cadets’ fate 

BAGUIO CITY — A court ordered the arrest of three former cadets and three doctors here 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 including former PMA Station Hospital chief Lt. Col. Ceasar Candelaria and medical officers Maj. Ma. Ofelia Beloy and Capt. Flor Apple Apostol.

Judge Itliong-Rivera set 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 told media they have yet to receive a copy of the arrest warrants saying 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. 

               At the same time, the military spokesman said six cadets tagged in Dormitorio’s death are currently under the Armed Forces headquarters’ custody and have been arraigned.

“[They] are now facing trial before a General Court Martial for violation of Article of War 97 Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline,” Arevalo said on Wednesday.