House Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez on Thursday, July 1, appealed to President Duterte to recall his appointment of Major General Bartolome Bacarro as the new head of the military's Southern Luzon Command (Solcom).

In asking Duterte to withdraw his appointment of Bacarro, the House leader recalled the controversial death of 20-year-old Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Darwin Dormitorio in 2019.

“Mr. Bacarro is one of those responsible for the death by hazing of PMA cadet Darwin Dormitorio on Septembers 18, 2019. Darwin was a constituent of mine in Cagayan de Oro,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

Bacarro, a member of the PMA Class 1988 and a Medal of Valor awardee, will replace controversial Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, who will retire on July 26.

He was the commandant of the cadets involved the 2019 hazing controversy and was one of the respondents in the criminal charges filed by the Baguio City Police. He later resigned from the post due to command responsibility.

In June, 2020, however, the city prosecutor’s office cleared Bacarro and a few other individuals of involvement "for lack of probable cause", recommending charges only for other PMA officials and cadets.

Bacarro was also promoted following the PMA controversy.

Rodriguez pointed out that the Anti-Hazing Law "places great responsibility for any hazing incidents and irregularities on those who have supervision over such activities."

He maintained that Bacarro, as the cadet commandant at the time of Dormitorio's death, "had direct responsibility" over the hazing incident.

“These developments are a grave injustice to my late constituent, his family and the people of Cagayan de Oro City,” Rodriguez lamented.

The President signed the Bacarro's appointment last Monday, June 28.