MANILA, Philippines -- From retired generals to neophyte lieutenants, alumni of the Philippine Military Academy on Saturday rallied behind their fellow cavaliers who have come under fire in the bribery controversy surrounding the “Alabang Boys” drug case.

At their general assembly that included top active generals at Camp Aguinaldo on Saturday, the PMA Alumni Association Inc. commended Director General Dionisio Santiago and Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency “for their exemplary leadership and uncompromising stand” amid the controversy.

“Their actions honor our alma mater, the PMA, and make us alumni stand proud. Our country needs their professionalism and tenacity, if Philippine society hopes to reverse the trend against the well-funded and well-connected traffickers of illegal drugs,” said the cavaliers, as PMA graduates are called, in a statement issued during the assembly.

Santiago, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, graduated from the PMA in 1970, while Marcelino, an active-duty Marine, graduated in 1994.

Now chief and chief operative, respectively, at PDEA, the two exposed alleged bribe attempts on agency personnel in behalf of the "Alabang Boys" -- Joseph Tecson, Richard Brodett and Jorge Joseph -- who were arrested in buy-bust operations in September last year.

Charges against the three, scions of wealthy families, were dropped by Department of Justice prosecutors in December 2009 for “lack of probable cause,” which caused the PDEA to allege money changed hands to influence the decision.

The PMA alumni in their statement said: “Although some [of us] are now retired, we feel duty bound, as responsible citizens, to speak out in support of the gallant men and women of PDEA for being steadfast and relentless in the fight against the proliferation of [the] illegal drug trade.”

Framed copies of the statement were presented to Santiago and Marcelino at the AFP Theater at Aguinaldo.

Among the roughly 800 PMA alumni in attendance were current AFP chief of staff General Alexander Yano, the commanding generals of the service commands, government and police officials, as well as retirees.

“We are aware that some government personnel within... the criminal justice system may have succumbed to the temptation of money and compromised their mission and duty, but that should not deter us from recognizing those who stand up despite adverse consequences,” the PMA alumni said.

Santiago and Marcelino visibly basked in their fellow cavaliers’ support, with both calling their association “family.”

“Of course, what more can you ask for when you have the support of your peers, that's the most important. Definitely, they will not support you just like that. It'll be the hardest [thing] if they no longer believe in you,” Santiago told the Inquirer shortly after accepting a copy of the manifesto.

Marcelino, who had revealed that between P3 million and P20 million was offered to him to "fix" the Alabang Boys' case, was also touched.

“Of course, our morale is high right now... Cavaliers are the wind beneath my wings. Of course if they support you, you feel like you can go, go, go,” he told the Inquirer.