Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia, PMA cadet dismissed for violation of honor code. PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines – Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia, the controversial Philippine Military Academy cadet dismissed for violating the Honor Code, will not join the graduation rites on Sunday, March 16.
“He is being recommended for dismissal from the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines,” military spokesperson Major General Domingo Tutaan told reporters on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo.
“[The PMA] has submitted a second recommendation for upholding the dismissal of Cadet Cudia. This has been submitted to the [AFP] chief of staff dated March 10, 2014. The GHQ [General Headquarters] has already endorsed this with the same recommendation to the Office of the President through the Office of the Secretary Department of National Defense,” he added.
PMA Superintendent Major General Oscar Lopez announced the decision on Tuesday afternoon in Baguio City.
The PMA’s decision on Cudia’s separation from the academy now lies with President Benigno Aquino III, the military’s commander-in-chief.
Honor Code violation
Cudia was accused of violating the Honor Code, for lying as to why he was late. The Honor Committee voted for his dismissal, and was affirmed by then PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Edgar Abogado.
He would have graduated salutatorian and was supposed to be the top cadet to join the Philippine Navy.
The Honor Code says that “one must not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate those who do.”
The case of Cudia at PMA was supposed to be confidential as per PMA’s tradition, but it reached cyberspace as his sister, Avee, posted about his case on Facebook. This led to criticisms on PMA and the Honor Code.
Cudia’s sister also accused the Honor Committee of rigging the votes to dismiss her brother. She said it was originally an 8-1 voting for the dismissal of Cudia. A unanimous 9-0 vote from the Honor Committee is required to dismiss a cadet from the academy. After the controversy broke out, AFP chief General Emmanuel Bautista then ordered a re-investigation of the case.
Top 10
The PMA also announced this year’s Top 10. This year’s PMA valedictorian is Cadet First Class Jheorge Llona from Daraga in Albay. He will join the Philippine Air Force.
There are 223 cadets of “Siklab Diwa Class of 2014” that are graduating on Sunday at PMA in Baguio with Aquino as guest of honor. They will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the AFP.
Not the first time
This was not the first time that a cadet was dropped from the rolls because of Honor Code violation.
PMA spokesperson Major Agnes Lynette Flores refused to give details on previous cases of Honor Code violators, saying it was “confidential.”
“Cudia’s case was only known because he brought his case to the public,” she told INQUIRER.net.
A PMA alumnus familiar to the honor system said it is hard to track down cases of Honor Code violators. There is a strict implementation of the Honor Code at PMA.
Violators of the Honor Code either resign from service or face ostracism.
“The mere act of resignation already restores your honor. And this ends the cause of the investigation. That is the honorable thing to do. When you get out of the service, they will not question you. They already know,” the alumnus told INQUIRER.net.
“Cadets guilty of the honor code are expected to resign honorably– something Cudia did not do,” he added.
Either way, even if Cudia would have been allowed to graduate, he will face ostracism throughout his military career.
In the late 1970s, a son of a general who was in his third year at PMA was found guilty of cheating. He was ordered dismissed by the Honor Committee but his parents took it to local courts. The cadet was allowed to go on and was able to graduate.
But the young officer only lasted about two years in the service because he did not survive the ostracism.
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