Press Release - Gatchalian hails verdicts on Darwin Dormitorio case; seeks tougher crackdown on hazing

Senator Win Gatchalian welcomed the decision of the Baguio City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 on the 2019 death of then 4th class cadet Darwin Dormitorio, which found three former Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets guilty of murder and violation of the anti-hazing law.

"Matapos ang ilang taon, nakamit din sa wakas ang katarungan para kay Darwin Dormitorio. Mahalagang tagumpay ito sa ating labang masugpo ang hazing, ngunit marami pa tayong dapat gawin upang mabura ang kultura ng karahasan, lalo na sa mga institusyong tulad ng PMA kung saan hinuhubog ang mga susunod na tagapagtanggol ng ating bansa," said Gatchalian, one of the authors of Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 (Republic Act No. 11053).

While Gatchalian hailed the decision as a victory, he emphasized the need for the PMA and the country's educational institutions to implement a stronger crackdown on hazing to prevent the loss of more lives.

"Patuloy nating hinihimok ang PMA, ang ating mga paaralan, at ang ating mga komunidad na palakasin pa ang pagsugpo sa hazing. Hindi na natin dapat pahintulutan pa na may kababayan tayong muling mamatay dahil sa ganitong anyo ng karahasan," Gatchalian added.

The three cadets involved in Dormitorio's slay case were all sentenced to reclusion perpetua. The Baguio court found former cadets Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr. guilty of murder while former cadet Julius Carlos Tadena was found guilty of violating the anti-hazing law.

The anti-hazing law prohibits all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, and organizations inside and outside schools. The law further provides that schools must take more proactive steps to protect their students from the dangers of participating in hazing activities.

For prospective members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), physical, mental, and psychological testing and training procedures and practices will not be considered hazing if they are approved by the Secretary of National Defense and the National Police Commission, and duly recommended by the National Police Commission.

Desisyon sa kaso ni Darwin Dormitorio ipinagbunyi ni Gatchalian

Ipinagbunyi ni Senador Win