MANILA – The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ruled out foul play in the death of one of its cadet during a swimming session last Friday.
“Based on the footage of the CCTV, we have found out there was no foul play and during that time 4th class cadet Mario Telan Jr. was with a group of fellow cadets when they jumped in the deeper part of the pool,” said PMA Public Affairs chief Captain Cherryl Tindog.
Police said Telan appeared to have drowned in the campus swimming pool.
Tindog, however, said that two swimming instructors and 21 fellow plebes are undergoing questioning over supposed “irregularities” in the conduct of the military school’s practical examinations.
According to Tindog, it is questionable why the class instructors—as well as Telan’s classmates—did not notice that the cadet was not able to come out of the water after the activity.
“Hindi po ito (attendance report) properly nagawa. Hindi po nila na-account, nalaman, na wala po si Cadet Telan noong sila ay umalis ng swimming pool. Naagapan po sana yan kung na-account po properly,” Tindog said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
“Wala po sa kanila ang nakakakita or nakapansin na hindi na umangat mula sa kanyang pagkakatalon si Cadet Telan na hindi nag-perform ng actual examination – lahat sila ay questioned,” she added.
Telan was found in the deep end of the 15-feet campus pool on Friday afternoon. He was immediately rushed to the Fort del Pilar Station Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Telan’s death comes nearly two months after the fatal hazing of cadet Darwin Dormitorio on Sept. 18./PN
