Darwin Dormitorio. ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A Baguio court has convicted 3 former cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) over the death of their fellow army trainee Darwin Dormitorio due to hazing in 2019.

The Baguio Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 found Shalimar Imperial, Jr. and Felix Lumbag, Jr. guilty of murder and hazing.

Another cadet, Julius Carlo Tadena, was found guilty of violating the Anti-Hazing Law. 

• PMA cadet died due to hazing – PNP

Imperial and Lumbag were sentenced to reclusion perpetua for each of the two cases in the decision promulgated by Judge Maria Ligata Itliong-Rivera. 

For the crime of murder, Imperial and Lumbag were also ordered to pay a fine of P3 million each. For the crime of hazing, they shall also indemnify the heirs of Dormitorio P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages and P25,000 as temperate damages, as well as P100,000 as attorney's fees.

Tadena was also sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua and ordered to pay a fine of P2 million. 

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The Dormitorio family's lawyer Adrian Bonifacio said their hard work and sacrifices after 5 years were all worth it.

"We dedicate the win to Darwin and his father Col. William Dormitorio. Incidentally, Col. Dormitorio died before the decision was released. I pray that Darwin and his father will finally have peace," Bonifacio said in a statement.

PMA sacks officials linked to hazing death of cadet

Dormitorio died in September 2019, after being confined for stomach pains. Police later determined he died due to hazing after they found bruises on the cadet's abdomen consistent with the crime.

He was 20 years old.

PMA cadet Darwin Dormitorio laid to rest with full military honors

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