A Baguio court found two Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets guilty of slight physical injuries in connection with the death of their fellow cadet, Darwin Dormitorio in September 2019.
In a resolution released on Friday, Baguio Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 1 presiding judge Roberto Malabot sentenced Christian Zacarias and Julius Carlo Tadena to 30 days of imprisonment.
The two were also ordered to each pay the Dormitorio family P100,000 for moral damages and P50,000 for attorneys fees.
“Absolute guarantee of guilt is not demanded by the law to convict a person of a criminal charge but there must, at least be moral certainty on each element essential to constitute the offense and on the responsibility of the offender,” Malabot said.
JUST IN: 2 kadete ng Philippine Military Academy, hinatulang guilty para sa kaso ng physical injuries kaugnay ng pagkamatay ni Darwin Dormitorio noon 2019 | DZRH News pic.twitter.com/4sBoLJgK1e
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) August 4, 2023
“Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is meant to be that, all thing given, the mind of the judge can rest at ease concerning its verdict,” he added.
Meanwhile, three PMA station hospital doctors namely, Captain Flor Apple Apostol, Major Maria Ofelia Beloy, and Lieutenant Colonel Caesar Candelaria, were found not guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
“No civil liability is awarded against the accused-doctors,” the presiding judge said.
On September 18, 2019, Dormitorio was found unconscious inside Room 209 of the PMA cadet's barracks at Fort General Gregorio Del Pilar in Baguio City.
He was rushed to PMA station hospital but was declared dead by the doctors.
Based on the police’s autopsy, he died from blunt force trauma.
The fourth-class cadet was reportedly a victim of hazing and other acts of violence.
Dormitorio, who hailed from Cagayan de Oro, died at the age of 20.
