FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is appealing for a continued trust in the country’s premier military officer training institution following the recent maltreatment of a fourth-class cadet that sent him to collapse and spend several months in the hospital.

PMA, through spokesman Philippine Navy Lt. Jesse Nestor B. Saludo, insists, “the professional institution steadfastly (is) committed to the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and excellence in the service of the.”

Mr. Saludo reiterated that PMA does not condone maltreatment. “Since 2018, we have implemented comprehensive reforms in training systems, policies, supervision, and monitoring mechanisms to prevent such incidents and foster a culture of respect, discipline, and professionalism among our cadets,” the PMA official statement, issued Monday, read.

The official PMA statement was issued after news already broke out on the complaint against cadets who allegedly physically harmed fourth-lass cadet Mauee Bumagat Maraggun for almost a month in September 2024 and made him perform heavy exercises which led to his collapse.

He was hospitalized at the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City and transferred to the PMA Hospital until his medical discharge on June 30.

Mr. Maraggun, 22, from Sta. Maria town in Isabela, filed a complaint before the Baguio City police on July 2 and was referred to the Office of the Baguio City Prosecutor on that day.

Mr. Saludo said the PMA has not seen a copy of the police report or formal complaint. “The victim is currently on indefinite leave while awaiting discharge orders based on AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Medical Board findings unrelated to the injuries sustained.”

Appropriate punishments have been meted out against the three cadets, Mr. Saludo said, detailing, Mr. Maraggun’s upperclassman, in fact his squad leader, was meted out with 60 demerits, 210 touring hours and 210 confine-ment days in his room though he can still attend class, eat at the mess hall and perform official duties like parades and other tasks. Only his privileges were waived.

“This is the maximum punishment given to a class 1 offense,” Mr. Saludo explained.

The two other cadets, his own “mistahs” (classmates) and in fact roommates, were suspended for a year for “inflicting physical injuries to a classmate.”

The fourth was freed from any punishment because he was found not guilty of any offense. — Artemio A. Dumlao