The Baguio Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 has meted out a guilty verdict to the three individuals accused of murdering Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Darwin Dormitorio in a hazing case in September 2019.
In the decision penned by Judge Maria-Ligaya Itliong-Rivera, released on Friday, August 16, the three were found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of violating the Anti-Hazing Law, and two were found guilty of murder as well.
Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr., both also PMA cadets, were found guilty of both murder and violations of the Anti-Hazing Law, and Julius Carlo Tadena was found guilty of violating the Anti-Hazing Law but not of murder.
The three have been sentenced to reclusion perpetua or a prison sentence of up to 40 years.
In August of 2023, the Baguio Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 1 had previously ruled on the cases of other individuals involved in the death of Dormitorio, finding Tadena and Christian Zacarias guilty over “slight physical injuries.”
The MTCC Branch 1 had, meanwhile, acquitted PMA Station Hospital Chief Lt. Col. Ceasar Candelaria and medical officers Capt. Flor Apple Apostol and Maj. Maria Ofelia Beloy of the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in death for their supposed lack of appropriate response to Dormitorio’s injuries.
