DEADLY WEAPON. Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) regional director, Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson on Thursday shows the tactical flashlight with a taser, believed to have been used to punish Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio on September 17. The turn-over of gadget has led to the identification of two more suspects who will be charged with violation of the anti-hazing law. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – Two more Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets have been linked to the death of fourth class cadet Darwin Dormitorio, bringing to five the number of cadets who will be facing charges.
Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) Director, Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, in a press conference at the city police headquarters here Thursday, said Police Col. Allen Rae Co, Baguio police director, will be filing the charges against the five PMA cadets next week.
Dickson said they will reveal the names of the two more suspects upon completion of the investigation.
The two cadets, who are now at the PMA stockade, separate from the three other suspects, will be turned over to police custody upon the court’s issuance of a warrant of arrest.
He revealed a tactical flashlight with a taser, which might have been used to inflict injuries, has also been turned over by PMA authorities to the investigating team.
He suspected that the gadget might have been used on Dormitorio when he was left alone after his discharge from the hospital on September 17.
Dormitorio was pronounced dead less than two hours after he was rushed to the PMA Station Hospital at around 4 a.m. of September 18.
Dickson said the use of the taser was consistent with the result of the autopsy on Dormitorio's body. It could have been sneaked into the barracks since it is not part of the things provided to cadets.
"Personal na gamit ito. I think it is not allowed but siguro may mga ingenuity na naiisip, yun, nakakuha sila ng ganito (This is personal stuff. I think this is not allowed but maybe there are those who are using their ingenuity and PMA administration found this)," he said.
The PNP medico-legal officer earlier said Dormitorio bore injuries on his private part and on his navel area.
Dickson said while Dormitorio case probe is nearing completion, there is a possibility that more suspects will be charged.
The first three suspects, who are facing charges of violation of the Anti-Hazing law are Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanupao, Cadets Third Class Shalimar Imperial and Felix Lumbag, have been ordered administratively discharged from PMA.
Dickson assured that they are preparing an airtight case against the suspects.
Meanwhile, Co said as early as August 20, Dormitorio was hospitalized for injuries, prompting the PMA administration to investigate the matter.
The investigation led to a PMA’s order for the one-year suspension of a cadet.
Before the suspension was enforced, Co said the cadet was declared off-limits to plebes especially Dormitorio but he violated the order. (PNA)
