Col. Romano Cardin虄o, Zambales provincial police director, talks to some cadets of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) on Wednesday during the investigation of the death of Cadet 4th Class Cadet Jonash Bondoc, 19, who succumbed to blunt traumatic injury in the head after he was reportedly punched by an upper-class cadet. (Photo courtesy of Zambales police office)
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales鈥� More groups and individuals have mounted campaigns for justice for the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) cadet who died after being punched by an upper-class cadet on Tuesday (July 6).
Midshipman Cadet 4th Class Cadet Jonash Bondoc, 19, a native of Butuan City, died of a head injury after the suspect, Midshipman Cadet 2nd class Jomel Gloria, allegedly punched him during a 鈥渢raditional recognition鈥� of Mindanao鈥檚 underclass cadets.
Gloria has been arrested and charged with homicide but was released on bail, the Inquirer learned.
Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago has called for an investigation of the incident.
鈥淭he fight for justice and accountability does not end here. Kabataan Partylist joins the call for an urgent and independent probe into the death of Jonash Bondoc,鈥� Elago tweeted with #JusticeForJonashBondoc.
The #JusticeForJonashBondoc was among the top trending topics in Twitter since Wednesday as more people demanded justice for Bondoc鈥檚 death.
The Union of Progressive Students, a socio-political organization in the University of the Philippines Cebu, also called for an end to what it described as an 鈥渁buse in military training academies.鈥�
鈥淲e stand in solidarity with the family and friends of Jonash Bondoc in calling for #JusticeForJonashBondoc and all the victims of hazing, bullying, brutality and any form of injustice in military training academies.,鈥� the group said.
It added: 鈥淎s long as this system of abuse is allowed to exist in military institutions, cases like this will continue to rise. 鈥�
The student group also demanded that the administration of the PMMA 鈥減rotect its students from abuse.鈥�
Rep. Lawrence Fortun of the first district of Agusan del Norte also condemned the death of Bondoc.
In a statement on Wednesday, Fortun, former Butuan vice mayor, said Bondoc鈥檚 death happened around 鈥渟uspicious circumstances 鈥� and 鈥淸should] not be allowed to pass without a truly independent, fair, impartial and comprehensive investigation.鈥�
He said Bondoc鈥檚 family was seeking justice and reform of the system at the academy.
鈥淸We want] to ensure that other cadets will not suffer the same fate in the hands of abusive upper-class cadets and neglectful school officials,鈥� Fortun said.
Fortun also asked the Commission on Higher Education to investigate the policies and practices inside the academy 鈥渢o determine the reasons why and how these cruel hazing activities still persist to this date.鈥�
Col.聽Romano聽Cardin虄o, provincial police director,聽said Bondoc succumbed to blunt traumatic injury in the head based on the autopsy report.
According to investigators, Gloria and some witnesses had told them that the tradition of punching underclass cadets was in time for their school break after their year-long stay inside the PMMA.
Bondoc was found unconscious inside a restroom of the cadets鈥� barracks around 6: 30 a.m. and was taken to the academy鈥檚 clinic before he was transferred to a hospital, police said.