PMA official on stopping hazing: ‘we did our best, but it wasn’t good enough’

Family and friends of PMA cadet 4th class Darwin Dormitorio pass underneath his raised casket. Dormitorio was laid to rest at the Cagayan de Oro Gardens Wednesday morning (Sept. 25). (Jigger J. Jerusalem, Inquirer Mindanao)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — An official of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on Wednesday admitted that they failed to fully implement the anti-hazing law that could have prevented the death of cadet 4th class Darwin Dormitorio and other trainees before him.

“We are just very sorry. We have our shortcomings,” Col. Claro Unson, PMA deputy dean of academics, told reporters.

Dormitorio, whose death has become the symbol for ending the practice of hazing in the country’s premier military school, was laid to rest at the Cagayan de Oro Gardens in Barangay Lumbia here Wednesday morning.

Because of his death on Sept. 18, the PMA superintendent, Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista resigned on Tuesday, and several individuals were meted sanctions.

Unson represented the PMA at the interment rites.

“We did our best, but our best was not good enough this time,” Unson said, although he assured that there would be no cover-up in the investigation of Dormitorio’s death.

An autopsy on Dormitorio’s body showed that he died from blunt force trauma resulting from hazing inside the academy.

“The death of cadet Dormitorio will serve as the rallying point for change and that is actually on maltreatment and hazing as it is known,” Unson said./lzb