PNoy to give quick, fair decision on dismissed PMA cadet
MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III is now studying the appeal of Aldrin Jeff Cudia, the cadet who has been dismissed from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for allegedly violating the school’s honor code.
“Kanina lang po ay nandoon ako sa tanggapan ng pangulo at sinabi niyang pinagaaralan niya ang appeal,” Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said this at a televised press briefing on Thursday.
He said “it is reasonable to expect” a quick decision from the president — the commander-inchief of the military who has the final say on the matter — since the PMA graduation rites will already be on March 16, Sunday.
“Isa ‘yan sa mga factors na tinitignan, the timeliness of the decision,” Coloma said.
The Palace official said “truth and fairness are primary guide posts in deciding” Cudia’s appeal.
But he added that the President would also factor in the recommendations of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has affirmed the decision of the PMA.
“Lahat po ng mga relevant considerations ay isasaalang-alang ng ating pangulo,” Coloma said.
Cudia was set to graduate as class salutatorian before he was dismissed by the PMA for supposedly lying about the reason for being late for a class.
The alleged wrongdoing was in violation of the academy’s Honor Code which states that a cadets don’t lie, don’t cheat and don’t steal or tolerate the same.
Coloma said the PMA Honor Code is an “essential building-block in the character formation of future leaders and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
“It’s basic objective is to prepare and fortify the mindset and the value set of the prospective armed forces officer as this will eventually be put to a severe test in the battlefield and arenas of conflict where the officer will be deployed upon,” Coloma said.
Cudia’s family has cried foul over the cadet’s dismissal. On Wednesday, they were accompanied by Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta in submitting the formal appeal to the AFP leadership.
According to STAR report, Cudia’s father said they would fight the cadet’s case until the very end because they value the hard work he put in for four years in the PMA.
“Our family is united in this battle. We would like to thank all of you for supporting us. We also thank the Lord. With His help, we will be able to clarify everything. We are leaving it up to Him. It’s painful for our family, really painful but we see light at the end of the tunnel,” Renato Cudia was quoted as saying in the STAR report.
The elder Cudia has urged Aquino to reverse the dismissal of his son.
Coloma said they have not received any information regarding a reported request from Cudia’s family to personally meet with President Aquino. Cadets discharged from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), once proven at fault, have to return what the government spent for their time in the school.
Col. Rozzano Briguez, PMA Commandant of Cadets, yesterday said that there is an existing policy that might affect Cudia once President Aquino decides to discharge him with finality.
“Technically, isa ‘yan sa mga policy natin ... kailangan ibalik if the cadet is at fault,” Briguez said in an interview with dzMM. (Philippine STAR News Service)