ALL OVER FACEBOOK. Several former cadets– active in the military service or not– and even those dismissed from the academy, made their cadet photos as their profile pictures on Facebook as a show of support to the Philippine Military Academy’s Honor Code. In photos are former cadets: AFP Vice Chief Lieutenant General Alan Luga, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, General Restituto Aguilar (ret), Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Noel Detoyato and Major Angelo Guzman of the AFP Public Affairs Office.
MANILA, Philippines–Several former cadets of the Philippine Military Academy, active or not, and even those who were dismissed themselves, showed their staunch support on the revered Honor Code by making their cadet photos as their profile picture on Facebook.
This came in the wake of criticisms on the academy’s Honor Code after Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia was dismissed from service when he supposedly lied about the reason as to why he was two minutes late.
The trend started Thursday night to show support to the honor system.
“We the cadets do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do,” the code says.
Lying, cheating and stealing would mean dismissal regardless of your status and academic performance.
“This is to show support to the decision of the PMA to discharge Cudia. It wasn’t because he was late. There’s an Honor Code that we follow. If you quibble and can’t answer right away, you have an intention to deceive,” one former cadet said.
Cudia’s case wasn’t the first time that a cadet was dismissed from service. It was, however, one of those rare instances that made it to Facebook.
Cudia’s sister, Avee, posted her brother’s plight on Facebook, which earned sympathies among netizens and criticisms on the Honor Code.
The graduating cadet would have been the salutatorian of this year’s PMA class, and is the top cadet to join the Philippine Navy. Speculations in military circles say that he lied as to avoid demerits that would lower his cadet ranking.
Ironically, the PMA also produced graduates that would later be involved in high profile cases of corruption.
The switching of profile photos started as an individual decision among former cadets until it became a trend on Facebook.
“There was no agreement. It was like an individual decision as a show of support until it became a trend,” the former cadet said.
On Thursday, the PMA defended its decision to dismiss Cudia because he broke the Honor Code and not because he was late.
“We are deeply saddened in seeing such a great talent go. But the PMA, and the Cadet Corps, in particular cannot be selective in its application of the Code regardless of a cadet’s academic performance and even personal circumstances,” the PMA said.
A re-investigation was ordered by no less than the military chief General Emmanuel Bautista. Cudia was placed on indefinite leave.
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