PMA chief quits after hazing death
THE head of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) resigned after a cadet died from hazing, the presidential palace said yesterday.
“I’d like to commend Lieutenant General Ronnie S. Evangelista for showing his kind of delicadeza by resigning as superintendent of the PMA,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told reporters.
He said Mr. Evangelista’s gesture was the“right step” to maintain the integrity of the military academy.
Authorities will continue investigating the death of cadet Darwin D. Dormitorio, who was found unconscious at his barracks on Sept. 18. He was rushed to the hospital and died more than an hour later, according to the PMA.
The Office of the President “guarantees that there will be no whitewash and expects that justice will be rendered to those responsible for the PMA plebe’s fatal death,” he added.
The PMA has said it had relieved officers responsible for the death of the cadet “to pave the way for an impartial investigation.”
Police have identified three cadets as suspects, two others as so-called persons of interest and nine more as witnesses. — Arjay L. Balinbin
