Bato on deaths of PMA cadets: ‘Minalas lang’

MANILA, Philippines — The two Philippine Military Academy (PMA) students may have been struck with bad luck, thus leading them to their deaths, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Tuesday.

“Minalas lang ‘yun (They were just struck with bad luck),” Dela Rosa, a former police chief and PMA alumnus, answered over ANC’s “Headstart” when asked about the recent deaths of the cadets.

The military school was marred with controversy over the death of cadet Darwin Dormitorio last September due to hazing.

READ: Police confirm PMA cadet died due to hazing

Recently, Dormitorio’s classmate, Cadet Fourth Class Mario Telan Jr.,  was found dead 15 under at the deep end of the PMA swimming pool.

READ: Initial findings show PMA cadet died from accidental drowning

“They are separate incidents. Two isolated incidents,” Dela Rosa said of the deaths. “Yung isa, hazing. Ito naman itong death sa swimming pool, hindi ‘yun hazing. Kapabayaan yun ng mga instructors.”

“Bakit yung bata, yung kadete na non-swimmer, napabayaan dun, lumubog na pala, di nila na-account, so negligence lang on part of the instructors bakit napabayaan ‘yun,” he added.

Asked if the PMA as a school should be accountable, Dela Rosa answered on the affirmative, clarifying that the deaths were “two isolated cases.”

“They should be accountable for their actions. May namatay eh, so pag may namatay, may mananagot (Someone died, so if someone died, someone will be held accountable),” he said.

Pressed further if he plans to conduct a Senate hearing on the recent deaths, he only replied: “Tignan natin (Let’s see).”  /muf