Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez urges President Rodrigo Duterte to recall the appointment of Major General Bartolome Bacarro as Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command chief.
According to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Duterte signed the appointment of Bacarro on Monday. Bacarro will replace Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. that will retire on July 26.
“Yes, his appointment has been signed. Signed on 28 June. Assumption is on 26 July, the day Gen. Parlade retires,” Lorenzana told GMA News Online in a text message.
Rodriguez said, “Mr. Bacarro is one of those responsible for the death by hazing of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Darwin Dormitorio on Sept. 18, 2019. Darwin was a constituent of mine in Cagayan de Oro.”
“These developments are a grave injustice to my late constituent, his family, and the people of Cagayan de Oro City,” he added.
On September 18, Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio died of “blunt-force trauma” from the hazing.
Deputy Speaker urges Duterte to cancel appointment of Bacarro as SolCom chief
Reports said the PMA cadet was found unconscious inside his room, Wednesday morning. He was reportedly suffering from stomach ache and was vomiting profusely while at his barracks in Fort del Pilar.
The cadet was a member of the Echo Company and PMA Class of 2023, which was incorporated only last July 27.
The Regional Trial Court First Judicial Region Branch 5 of Baguio City then released arrest warrants against the three Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets and doctors accused of killing Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.
Baguio City Police chief Police Colonel Allen Rae Co confirmed the report. He said they are already coordinating with concerned agencies to arrest Cadets Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr., who are facing hazing and murder charges, and Cadet Julius Carlo Tadena for hazing and “less serious physical injuries” charges.
The court also ordered the arrest of former PMA Station Hospital chief Lieutenant Colonel Ceasar Candelaria and medical officers Captain Flor Apple Apostol and Major Maria Ofelia Beloy, who are also facing murder charges.
Prosecutors earlier dismissed charges against then PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista and Brig. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.
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