Initial reports indicated that Dormitorio died from continuous vomiting after complaining of stomach pain while in his barracks in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio.

"[13][14] Dormitorio reportedly wrote a letter in late August 2019 telling his parents that he was confined in the hospital but was doing fine as he was adjusting to life in the PMA.

[10] Dormitorio also wrote a report of the incident that happened on the night of August 21, 2019, detailing the punishment he got from PMA Cadets 3rd Class Shalimar Imperial and Felix Lumbag after spending half of his allowance.

According to Col. Allen Rae Co, Chief of Baguio Police Provincial Office, the victim was beaten up by the three suspects for losing Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanopao's boots.

[18][19] On September 26, 2019, the police identified but refused to reveal the names of two more PMA upperclassmen as additional suspects in Dormitorio's death, along with Sanopao, Imperial, and Lumbag.

[25] On August 16, 2024, the court convicted Tadena, along with the principal suspects[7]—Shalimar Imperial Jr. and Felix Lumbag Jr.—for hazing; with the latter two also for murder; and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

During a press briefing on September 23, 2019, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that President Rodrigo Duterte was "angry" about the hazing incident, which occurred just a year after he signed the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 into law.

[27] However, a year after signing the law, Duterte stated in a press conference that removing hazing in educational institutions is impossible, describing such measure as "permanent insanity".

[30] Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año has also ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to be "transparent and not withhold information or whitewash" in investigating the hazing circumstances that led to the victim's death.

Flor Apple Apostol, who were in charge of the PMA station hospital that initially treated the victim, were also replaced by Lt. Col. Nerio Zabala as officer-in-charge.

[36] The parents of Horacio Castillo III, the 22-year old freshman from University of Santo Tomas (UST) who died as a result of hazing on September 17, 2017, urged legislators in Congress to amend the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

[37] Mayor Omaradji Pizarro of Kalilangan, Bukidnon, who is also Domitorio's uncle, called on legislators in Congress to review the implementation of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which prohibits and penalizes hazing and regulates other forms of initiation rites in fraternities, sororities, and other organizations.

[38][39] Similarly, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez filed a resolution to investigate Dormitorio's death in the Congress.

[42] Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa lamented the resignation of Evangelista as head of PMA, calling him a "good officer whose career was wasted because of that very unfortunate incident.