THE KABATAAN Partylist on Sunday denounced the appointment of Major General Bartolome Bacarro as commander of the military’s Southern Luzon Command.

It said that this was not the first time that government personnel caught in abuse scandals “have not only escaped accountability but are rewarded for their human rights violations.”

“Kabataan Partylist expresses its outrage against the unashamed promotion of Maj. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro from his stint at the Philippine Military Academy that had under his watch the hazing and ritual execution of cadet Darwin Dormitorio to the military’s top ranks as the new Southern Luzon Commander,” the group said.

“We stand in solidarity with the Dormitorio family whose quest for justice for Darwin is being jeopardized by his brothers-in-arms. We echo their calls to remove Maj. Gen. Bacarro from his new appointment and prosecute him and all other perpetrators and enablers of abuse to the fullest extent,” it added.

Bacarro resigned as PMA commandant of cadets in 2019 following the hazing-related death of Dormitorio.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Bacarro as SOLCOM chief, replacing Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade.

The group stressed that the military establishment, the academy, and its officials are “mere barracks of killers beyond redemption, incompatible with our democracy.”

“Justice for Darwin Dormitorio begins with accountability and ends with a systemic change to how our armed forces operate. The Filipino youth, who are time and again victims of those who should be their protectors, deserve no less,” it said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that Baccaro had been cleared of any responsibility in Dormitorio’s death.

“MGEN Bartolome Vicente Bacarro went through a rigorous selection process by the AFP Board of Generals and found fit to assume higher position in the AFP,” Lorenzana said.

“On the unfortunate death of Cadet Darwin Dormitorio, MGEN Bacarro was cleared by the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office of any responsibility for lack of probable cause,” he added.