Cadet’s grape ‘theft’ case threatens to stir Honor Code furor at PMA

STUDENTS and graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) have been reported to be silently protesting the decision of Superintendent Vice Adm. Allan Ferdinand Cusi to mete a lesser penalty to a cadet who was found to have violated the “Honor Code,” widely defined as “a system of ethics, or code of conduct, applying to military cadets studying at military academies.”

Cusi’s decision over the case of Cadet 3rd Class (second year) Desemoore Guillermo triggered protests from cadets and alumni, and may put the academy into the spotlight of controversy following the death of cadet 4th class Darwin Dormitorio in a hazing murder case last year wherein several individuals were charged.

Reports said that Guillermo stole five pieces of grapes from the refrigerator of the “First Class Club,”

the club exclusively owned by the 1st class cadets, or the graduating class, in what was considered to be a violation of the code, the timehonored sacred creed being practiced and observed by cadets in the PMA.

The Honor Code is also considered as a “covenant” “exclusive” among the students, which states that cadets “do not steal, cheat and lie nor tolerate those among us who do.” It was sacred that no cadet can go against this creed, and it was even used in the case of Dormitorio in unmasking those who were involved in the hazing.

A retired general and graduate of the academy said that after several months of trial, Guillermo reportedly admitted her guilt, and “as expected of her, she did the honorable thing of voluntarily submitting her resignation, then started processing her papers for clearing out.”

However, when the case reportedly reached Cusi, the Navy official reportedly convened a “Board of Senior Officers” to review the case, which subsequently recommended for the dismissal of Guillermo.

“But to the shock of everybody, especially the Cadet Corps, the superintendent caused the issuance of an order last July 7 that instead of resignation/dismissal, Cadet Guillermo [was] meted only 51 demerits, 180 hours punishment tours and 180 confinement days inside barracks effective July 2020,” the retired general said.

“This greatly demoralized not only the Cadet Corps, but also the PMA Officer Corps, especially the Peemayers for what they considered a grave mistake committed by the superintendent. This is very sad because this has serious implications to both the cadets and alumni,” he added.

As it is a strict and time-honored covenant, the Honor Code has showed the exit for most cadets who left, or have been expelled from the PMA, in the past.

The “deplorable” action of Cusi, according to the retired general, has “caused a lot of grumbling and restiveness among the cadet corps and alumni,” adding it has to be “rectified soonest so as not to set a bad precedent.”

“If not corrected or rectified, it is feared that this would surely open a wide door for more honor violations. It is also grossly unfair and unjust for those former cadets who have resigned/dismissed due to honor violations,” he said.

“What is bothersome is, what if these resigned/dismissed cadets makes an appeal for reconsideration of their cases? Will they get reinstated? If they do, then the Honor Code and Honor System is doomed, thus [it] would significantly weaken PMA as an institution and eventually be reduced into a common scholarship school comparable to the rest of the country,” he added.

The retired general said that the case has been the hot topic within and outside the PMA and in various social-media chat groups.