Police officials launch probe on cadet's death

The Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) initiated an investigation yesterday into the death of one of its cadets last Monday, which his family believes was caused by hazing.

Chief Superintendent George Aliño, PNPA head, named Superintendent Rodolfo Sebastian, PNP commandant of cadets, chairman of a five-man board of inquiry tasked to look into the death of cadet Dominante Tunac.

Aliño also asked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to conduct a parallel probe.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim, for his part, has directed the National Police Commission, which he chairs, to step into the investigation.

Tunac, 24, a native of Vintar, Ilocos Norte, died at the intensive care unit of the United Doctors Medical Center (UDMC) reportedly due to "adult respiratory distress syndrome."

Tunac's family, however, believes that he died from hazing as evidenced, they claimed, by bruises and contusions on his body.

According to Aliño, Tunac, along with 214 other cadets, was sworn in as a member of the PNPA Class 2003 last May 9.

In the morning of May 12, his fellow cadets brought Tunac to the PNPA dispensary after he complained of dehydration.

The PNPA physician, Dr. Arnulfo Billote, diagnosed Tunac as suffering from "hypoglycemia" (lack of glucose) and "electrolyte imbalance" (lack of fluid), a condition, he said, was common among other cadets confined at the dispensary.

Aliño said Billote did not find any external signs of physical violence on Tunac's body.