The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) should intensify its mechanisms and programs aimed at preventing any incidences of hazing inside the campus.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian made the pitch as he welcomed the decision of the Baguio City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 on the 2019 death of then 4th Class Cadet Darwin Dormitorio.
In the Dormitorio case, three former PMA cadets were found guilty of murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, Republic Act No. 11053.
“Matapos ang ilang taon, nakamit din sa wakas ang katarungan para kay (After severa years, justice was finally achieved for) Darwin Dormitorio,” Gatchalian said.
“Mahalagang tagumpay ito sa ating labang masugpo ang hazing, ngunit marami pa tayong dapat gawin upang mabura ang kultura ng karahasan, lalo na sa mga institusyong tulad ng PMA kung saan hinuhubog ang mga susunod na tagapagtanggol ng ating bansa (This is an important victory in our fight against hazing, but we still have a lot to do to eradicate the culture of violence, especially in institutions like PMA where the future defenders of our country are being shaped),” said Gatchalian, one of the authors of the anti-hazing law.
The senator said it is necessary for the PMA and the country’s educational institutions to implement a stronger crackdown on hazing to prevent the loss of more lives.
“Patuloy nating hinihimok ang PMA, ang ating mga paaralan, at ang ating mga komunidad na palakasin pa ang pagsugpo sa hazing (We continue to urge PMA, our schools, and our communities to further strengthen the crackdown on hazing),” he said.
“Hindi na natin dapat pahintulutan pa na may kababayan tayong muling mamatay dahil sa ganitong anyo ng karahasan (We must not allow any of our countrymen to die again because of this form of violence),” the lawmaker stressed.
Two of the three cadets involved in the Dormitorio slay case were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, and they were Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr. who the court found guilty of murder.
On the other hand, former cadet Julius Carlos Tadena was found guilty of violating the anti-hazing law.
Under the anti-hazing law, all forms of hazing whether in fraternities, sororities and organizations inside and outside of educational institutions are strictly prohibited.
The law also mandates schools to take a more proactive step towards protecting students from the dangers of participating in hazing activities.
For prospective members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), physical, mental, and psychological testing and training procedures and practices will not be considered hazing if they are approved by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom), and duly recommended by the Napolcom.