Death among brothers

September 22, 2019 Sideglance

The latest controversy surrounding the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) comes at time when the public already seems convinced that hazing has already been tamed at the premier military institution in the country.

The recent death of fourth-class cadet Darwin Dormitorio bring to light that however hazing has been regulated or at the extreme prohibited by law the military academy will always have its headaches regarding abuse and maltreatment of new cadets by some of those supposed to be their brothers and mentors.

However revered and respected the PMA has become it seems to have never completely removed itself from the stigma and perhaps the curse of having hazing victims within its corps.

In the case of the death of Dormitorio, the country lost a potential protector of the nation, one who may yet find his niche in the military hierarchy and fulfill his role as a capable and astute military commander, one willing to put his life on the line to save others and make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation.

That will not happen anymore in the case of Dormitorio. For him, the ultimate sacrifice may have not been done in the battle field nor at the hands of the enemy but within the revered grounds of the military institution and on the hands of those did he consider his brothers.

The PMA as a military institution has an honor system and a code which goes, “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do so.” Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, the PMA superintendent who has confirmed that the autopsy of fourth-class cadet Darwin Dormitorio showed he died of hazing and that three other cadets and three non-faculty employees are already being considered persons of interest as a result of a military and police continue a joint investigation, will certainly have his hands full in the coming weeks if not the coming months as the investigation of Dormitorio’s death gains traction in the attention of the public.

Perhaps and as an unsolicited suggestion coming from a civilian, PMA superintendent Evangelista can issue a directive that henceforth all cases where cadets are admitted to the PMA hospital for physical maladies or ailments other than simple cough or colds will be subject to a thorough investigation by the academy.

The attending physician should also be duty bound to report immediately any possible indication of physical maltreatment suffered by those admitted to their care for treatment. It bears reminding that doctors have an oath of their own which is to save lives and not abet nor be an unwitting accomplice in the extinguishment thereof.

Also perhaps the good superintendent can make it absolutely mandatory for those 4th class cadets to comply with the honor code by imposing the sanction of removal from the academy for anyone lying about their physical condition and why they were admitted to the PMA hospital.

It must be noted that new cadets to the PMA academy are supposed to be extremely physically fit when they enter the institution. As a soldier it is acceptable to die at the hands of the enemy since that is what they signed up for when they volunteered to defend the people and the nation.

What is not acceptable is to suffer the ignominy of having your life snuffed out by those you consider as your brothers. One does not find honor in such a tragedy.