Hazing at PMMA condemned; UFS,
VACC demand probe
PARENTS, relatives and friends of hazing victims at the
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) have called on the government
to immediately investigate the “numerous hazing incidents at PMMA and punish
the perpetrators.”
The parents, together with their hazing victim-sons, met
with UFS president Nelson P. Ramirez and Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption
head Dante Jimenez, recently to dramatize their appeal for justice. According
to them, there have been numerous hazing incidents, both documented and
undocumented, where upperclassmen, with the tacit support of their tactical
officers and administrator of the school, “inflicted severe physical injuries
on our sons who were fourth class cadets of PMMA.
Calling themselves as the “PMMA Anti-Hazing Group,” they
were led by Lucas B. Imperial, a parent of a hazing victim and the president
of the newly-formed group.
The group presented a seven-point demand to stop hazing,
end corruption and institute reforms at the country’s premier maritime
school.
They claimed that the hazing incidents at PMMA have already
resulted in a number of deaths and countless physical injuries as well
as grave psychological pains. “Even us parents, relatives and friends of
the hazing victims suffer tremendously from what happen to them,” they
said, referring to the hazing victims.
They appealed to Ramirez to: “Please exhaust all possible
remedies for us to obtain justice for the grave injustice committed to
our sons.” They vowed to support the UFS official in any legal of extralegal
battle he will wage to stop hazing at PMMA and “save incoming sons from
harm, even death.”
In an earlier letter to Jimenez, Imperial asked for help,
saying that he being the head of VACC and at the forefront of the fight
against criminality and corruption “should also help us in our crusade
to stop the inhuman practice of hazing at PMMA.”
“What is lamentable about the situation is that PMMA,
apparently, has not lifted a finger to investigate the hazing incidents,”
Imperial told Ramirez and Jimenez.
He urged the two to orchestrate their appeal to President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo so that “we can have the justice we deserve.”
The demands are: 1) Stop hazing and all forms of violence
against PMMA cadets; 2) Investigate and punish perpetrators of hazing;
3) Investigate and punish the tactical officers and school officials who
are coddling these perpetrators; 4) Investigate and punish school officials
who connived and covered-up in a number of hazing cases; 5) Investigate
and fire PMMA president Virginio Aris for incompetence in failing to stop
hazing and for abetting hazing; 6) Expose and oppose graft and corruption
within PMMA; and 7) Institute sweeping and lasting reforms in the PMMA.
-- CB Orrosco |
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