PHILIPPINE Army Commanding General Romeo Brawner Jr. assured lawmakers that hazing has been eradicated at the Philippine Military Academy.

Brawner made the assurance during the budget deliberations in the House of Representatives.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro inquired about the status of the PMA following the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio due to hazing in 2019.

Brawner was assigned as commandant of the PMA after the incident.

“The DND has instituted a lot of reforms within the PMA that led to the total eradication of hazing, your honor. Right now, we are proud to announce that there is no more hazing at the PMA,” Brawner said.

He said that former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered the separation of the dormitory for first year cadets and the inclusion of different laws and regulations including anti-hazing law in their curriculum.

Lorenzana also empowered cadets to report their upperclassmen involved in any violence.

Meanwhile, DND officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. assured the safety of PMA cadets inside the academy.

“We have instituted a lot of reforms, as a result of this incident. I received a report just lately the survival of our plebes right now is close to almost 98% and there are zero hazing cases reported for the past year or two,” Faustino said.