Maj. Reynan Afan, Philippine Military Academy spokesperson (Photo by Cathrine Gonzales / INQUIRER.net)
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) said Saturday it does not believe the hazing death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio will affect the recruitment of potential cadets into the ranks of the country’s premier military school.
Maj. Reynan Afan, PMA spokesperson, assured that measures have been taken to prevent future incidents of hazing in the academy.
“Sa tingin po namin, hindi naman maapektuhan ito (recruitment). Ina-assure po namin lahat ng mga pamilya, lahat ng mga magulang na isa-isa po naming inaalagaan ang kanilang mga anak dito sa PMA,” he said in an interview with reporters here.
(We think this will not affect the recruitment. We assure all families, all parents of cadets that we are taking care of their children at the PMA.)
Afan said the PMA is also conducting regular check-ups on around 300 plebes, or freshmen, on orders from the AFP General Headquarters, following the tragic death of Dormitorio on September 18.
Afan however refused to reveal the medical findings on the plebes who underwent the check-ups, and said the PMA is already conducting regular medical examinations on cadets even before the incident, which he said was an “exception” and an “isolated case.”
“It’s one of the preventive measures of the command and an instruction of the higher headquarters. Kasama po ‘yun sa mga ginagawa ng PMA para lalong mapangalagaan at mamonitor ang ating mga kadete (It’s one of the measures being enforced by the PMA to further take care of and monitor cadets),” he explained.
Afan said that while cadets continue to mourn the death of Dormitorio, their normal activities at the academy continue. He added that no plebe had quit the PMA for fear of being subjected to hazing.
“In fact, they are more inspired and motivated to become better cadets because of this,” he said. /muf