MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on Wednesday, 23 October 2019, clarified the hazing video that surfaced this week were taken years back or in 2017 and 2018 and it already made the necessary punishment on those involved.

“The videos circulating in the social media involving our cadets were taken in 2017 and 2018. However, the offenses they committed were and never will be sanctioned or tolerated in PMA,” PMA Public Information Officer Capt. Cheryl Tindog said in a statement.

Tindog disclosed that one of those involved in hazing of other cadets was discharged for violating the PMA Honor Code, while five other cadets are being held in the PMA’s holding center while a probe is ongoing.

However, the PMA did not reveal the names of the cadets involved in the hazing and those undergoing punishment from upper classmen.

The PMA also confirmed the hazing videos were taken inside the academy’s compound.

Meanwhile, the brother of PMA 1st class cadet Darwin Dormitorio, who recently died of hazing, said the videos prove that hazing is prevalent in the academy, and not an isolated case as claimed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Noel Clement.

“This (the videos) strongly refutes the claim of PMA that what happened to my brother is isolated and was accidental,” Dormitorio’s elder brother Dexter Dormitorio said in a television interview.

Darwin Dormitorio died last Sept. 18, 2019 from severe beating that he experienced from seven upperclassmen who are now facing court martial proceedings and criminal charges.

Among them are First class cadet Axl Rey Sanopao, 2nd class cadet Christian Zacarias, and 3rd class cadets Shalimar Imperial Jr., Felix Lumbag Jr., Julius Carlo Tadena, Rey David John Volante, and John Vincent Manalo. (GA/IAmigo/CNS)