MANILA – The head of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has quit from his post following the suspected hazing death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio last week.
PMA Superintendent Lieutenant Genenral Ronnie Evangelista on Tuesday announced his resignation, a day after saying that only President Rodrigo Duterte can order him to quit.
Aside from Evangelista, also resigning is the commandant of the Corps of Cadets Brigadier General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.
“In the military tradition of command responsibility, it is now the proper time for me, as the head of this institution, together with the commandant of the Corps of Cadets to relinquish our respective positions,” Evangelista said.
“I did not leave my post in the midst of crisis. I faced the problems squarely and we have finished the investigation. As I resign from my post, it is now up to the proper authority to decide on the finality of the case. That for me is the definition of command responsibility,” he added.
While he awaits orders for his replacement, Evangelista will prepare the separation papers of four senior cadets allegedly responsible for beating up Dormitorio.
Dormitorio died on Sept. 18 from cardiac arrest secondary to internal injuries due to supposed hazing within the campus. Two other cadets were rushed in different hospital after complaining for abdominal pain.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, who earlier asked for Evangelista’s resignation, has commended the latter for his move, which was a “right step” to preserving the integrity of the state’s premier military school.
“We welcome this development as a right step towards upholding the integrity of the PMA as the country’s premier military institution and recognize the same as a form of genuine delicadeza on the part of Lieutenant General Evangelista,” Panelo said in a statement.
The Palace spokesperson has also assured Dormitorio’s family that there will be “no whitewash” in the ongoing investigation./PN
