2 more PMA cadets confined in hospital for maltreatment

MANILA, Philippines — Two more cadets from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) are confined in a hospital possibly due to maltreatment, days after the death of hazing victim Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.

The two cadets are currently recuperating at V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters Monday.

“Meron pang 2 nasa V.Luna ngayon who are undergoing treatment for some internal injuries sa tyan. After this I’m going to visit also,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the ceremonial blessing for new amphibious vehicles and multi-purpose attack craft of the Philippine Navy.

(There are two more cadets who are confined at V. Luna unergoing treatment for internal injuries in the abdomen. After this, I’m going to visit also.)

Dormitorio died last week from cardiac arrest secondary to internal injuries due to hazing.

On Saturday, Lorenzana visited the wake of the Dormitorio at PMA and talked to the cadet corps.

“I reminded them that anybody who does not report or who have knowledge of maltreatment are as guilty as perpetrators,” he said.

The defense chief said he has instructed that all plebes undergo physical examination “from head to foot.”

“If they have bruises, then we’ll identify who did it. We will deal with them to the full extent of the law,” he said.

Lorenzana, a member of PMA Class of 1973, said he did not go through as harsh beatings during training.

“Dumaan naman ako sa ganyan. Hindi nangyari sa amin ‘yan. Sa klase namin hindi naman ganyan katindi,” he said.

(We also went through that but we did not experience something as brutal as that.)

“Pwede naman pahirapan, hindi sinusuntok at sinisipa. Do push-ups, squat thrusts, running. ‘Yun ang pag mold ng physical, hindi ‘yung kuryentehin, or dinudukot tuwing gabi para hindi makatulog. Those are hazing already,” he said.

(They can be tortured without kicking or punching them. They can do push-ups, squat thrusts, running. That’s how you mold them physically, not by electrocuting them or snatching them at night so that they can’t sleep. That’s hazing already.) /kga