MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Noel Clement has named the new top officials of the Philippine Military Academy to replace the generals who resigned out of courtesy following the hazing death of a cadet within campus.
Navy Vice Commander Rear Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi will be the PMA superintendent officer-in-charge, and Army’s 103rd Brigade Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. will be the acting commandant of cadet corps.
Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and Brig. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro resigned last Tuesday “by virtue of command responsibility” following the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.
The 20-year-old cadet, who would have been a member of PMA Class 2023, died last Sept.18 from cardiac arrest secondary to internal injuries due to supposed maltreatment inside the country’s premier military school.
At least 3 PMA cadets were also brought to the hospital due to suspected hazing.
Brawner belonged to PMA Makatao Class of 1989. He served as spokesperson of the Joint Task Force Marawi at the height of the campaign to flush out Islamic State-linked militants who laid siege on Marawi City in 2017.
After this stint, Brawner took the helm of the 103rd Brigade which oversees the continuing campaign to run after the IS remnants in Lanao del Sur.
Taking over as the 103rd brigade’s officer in charge will be Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, currently Brawner’s deputy commander.
Cuerpo belonged to PMA Class 1990.
Clement said that Evangelista and Bacarro will be temporarily placed under his office. /je