Court orders arrest of PMA doctors, cadets for Dormitorio hazing death

BAGUIO CITY –– A Baguio Court has ordered the arrest of three Philippine Military Academy cadets and three military doctors in connection with the 2019 hazing death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio, said Police Col. Allen Rae Co, city police director, on Wednesday.

Captain Flor Apple Apostol, Major Maria Ofelia Beloy and their former superior officer at the PMA Station Hospital, Lt. Col. Ceasar Candelaria are each entitled to P200,000 bail, after being charged for murder over their alleged negligent treatment of Dormitorio, according to a July 7 warrant issued by Baguio Regional Trial Court Judge Maria Ligaya Itliong-Rivera.

The doctors have denied misdiagnosing Dormitorio, who was treated for a urinary tract infection hours before he died.

Rivera also directed the police to take custody of Felix Lumbag Jr. and Shalimar Imperial Jr., the senior cadets, who are the principal suspects in Dormitorio’s death.

Dormitorio died in September last year from internal injuries attributed to a series of beatings allegedly committed by Lumbag and Imperial, who were kicked out of the academy after an internal PMA probe. They will be held without bail.

Judge Rivera ordered the arrest of a third senior cadet Julius Carlo Tadena, who will also be held without bail. Tadena was accused of injuring Dormitorio with a taser.

The cadets were under military custody as they underwent court-martial proceedings.

Co said the Baguio City Police Office is coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines about the transfer of custody.

LZB