@beffiIantlu @imw
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M0NDAy 0c0ber28,2019
I Suspend PM A cadet recruitment'
A HOUSE of Representatives
member is seeking to suspend
the recruitment process of ca-
dets of the Philippine Milirary
Academy (PMA) for one year
to pave way for an overhaul
and cleansing of its system.
Ako-Bicol party-list Rep.
Alfredo Garbin said on Sun-
day thar with ar least six pMA
cadet deaths recorded in the
past years due to hazing, the
one-year suspension ;would
be "proper."
"Suspending just for one
year or one cycle the recruit-
ment of new cadets into the
Philippine Military Academy is
proportionate, proper and not
drastic," Garbin said in a state-
ment, amid reports that at least
27 alleged, maltreatment cases
are currently being investigated
st
by the PMA leadership.
"Having 52 cadets in con-
finement now, at leasi 2Z new
maltreatment cales and the
newly-discovered hazing vid-
eos on top of the still pending
Darwin Dormitorio case prove
thal my recommendation is
a proportionate solution to
the hazing situatio-n in'pfuA, "
added the Bicolano lawmaker,
who is the vice chairman of the
House Committee on Justice.
"The Iives, safety and honor
ofthe 52 cadets were in monal
danger. That is no small mat-
ter. Six cadets have died before
and their souls cry for justice,"
he added.
Garbin is referring to the
death of Dormitorio this year;
Manuel Salas in 1978; Andres
Ramos fr., 1981; Bernabe Ekid,
n pAgr - AsU
2000; Edward Domingo, 2001;
and Monico de Guzman, 2001,
To address the temporary
effect on the supply of new of-
ficers, Garbin said the Armed
Forces of the Philippines
could promote officers from
among tlle ranks of the non-
corhmissioned personnel and
convert some of the ranking
reservists to active status.
Civilian oversight of rhe
overhaul would be neces-
sary for the 18th Congress,
-
he added.
Dormitorio, who died last
month after getting beaten
by his upperclassmen, has
sparked proposals from vari-
ous lawmakers to probe the al-
leged maltreatment cases and
hazing deaths inside the rop
military school. GLEE JALEA