A Baguio Regional Trial Court (RTC) has found two cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) guilty of murder and another cadet guilty of hazing in connection with the tragic death of Darwin Dormitorio in September 2019.
The court sentenced Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr. to reclusion perpetua, which carries a maximum term of 40 years in prison, for violations of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 and murder. Julius Carlo Tadena was convicted of hazing and also sentenced to reclusion perpetua. Additionally, Imperial and Lumbag were fined P3 million each for hazing, while Tadena was fined P2 million.
The court also ordered Imperial and Lumbag to jointly pay Dormitorio’s family P75,000 in civil indemnity, P75,000 in moral damages, P25,000 in temperate damages, and P100,000 in attorney’s fees, with all amounts accruing 6% interest per annum from the finality of the decision until fully paid.
Darwin Dormitorio, a PMA cadet, died on September 18, 2019, due to severe injuries consistent with physical abuse. His death sparked widespread outrage and prompted calls for reform within the academy.
The Dormitorio family’s legal counsel, Atty. Adrian Bonifacio, expressed relief at the court’s decision, dedicating the victory to Darwin and his late father, Col. William Dormitorio, who passed away before the verdict was reached.