Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin asked the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to temporarily suspend its recruitment until the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) could assure parents and new cadets that it is safe to study in PMA.
Garbin appealed following the discovery of 27 new hazing or maltreatment cases of PMA cadets.
Garbo, the vice-chairman of the House Committee on Justice, said it was clear that there was a problem within the PMA that had to be corrected immediately due to the discovery of new PMA hazing cases.
The congressman explained the need to suspend PMA recruitment for one year. This will give AFP the time to overhaul the academy.
PMA announced on its website that 1,629 examinees passed the PMA Entrance Examination (PMAEE) conducted last August 25, 2019. For the complete list of successful examinees, click here.
PMA hazing videos surfaced online
The Philippine Military Academy, Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and Baguio are now investigating the PMA hazing videos, which went viral on social media.
The PMA confirmed the hazing videos were shot inside the military school in Baguio City.
According to the PMA, the videos were taken in 2017 and 2018 before Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio died of hazing on September 18, 2019.
Under the leadership of the commandant of cadets Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner, the tactics group, is investigating the two hazing incidents.
However, the PMA asked the public not to share and spread the PMA hazing videos as they are investigating them.
According to the Baguio City Police, they will start investigating the case when someone files for the case.
Meanwhile, the CHR hopes to stop hazing in the PMA and asks the academy to respect and take care of their cadets.
Last month, PMA officials confirmed one of their cadets, Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio died of hazing.
“It was hell for him,” Baguio City Police Director Colonel Allen Rae Co described the victim’s experience after they got the testimonies of the 16 witnesses to the crime.
PMA hazing timeline part 1: details of cadet’s 24 hours of “hell”
PMA cadet hazing timeline part 2: cadet’s final hours of “hell”