DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has made a call for the “total elimination” of hazing in all schools and non-school-based organizations, including military and army trainings after the recent death a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet due to hazing.
The CHR on Wednesday expressed condemnation to the death of PMA Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio, who succumbed to cardiac arrest secondary to internal hemorrhage on Sept. 18.
In a statement, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said that the agency has “zero tolerance” for hazing.
“We vehemently oppose this practice that directly curtails the right to life of individuals particularly the youth,” de Guia said.
“We must end the culture of violence especially among the ranks of our future leaders in the military sector and disavow in unequivocal terms the use of physical, mental and psychological violence in their training activities,” she added.
CHR welcomed an investigation and the filing of necessary administrative and criminal cases against the parties involved.
Meanwhile, a house resolution was recently filed by Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez seeking a congressional investigation into Dormitorio’s death.
On Tuesday, Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista has announced his resignation as Superintendent of the PMA.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo commended Evangelista for “showing his kind of delicadeza” by resigning as PMA head.
Panelo added that 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.”
The death of the 20-year old PMA cadet happened despite the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last year. (davaotoday.com)
