Cudia’s mother asks SC to order PMA to release son’s diploma

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 10 years ago

The family of dismissed Philippine Military Academy cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The mother of Cadet 1^st Class Jeff Aldrin Cudia on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to order the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to release her son’s diploma and restore him on the list of the premier military school’s graduates.

In a 60-page petition-in-intervention, Cudia’s mother, Filipina, urged the high court to annul the ruling of the PMA Honor Committee and the Cadet Review and Appeals Board that found Cudia guilty of violating the Honor Code.

Mrs. Cudia said his son’s rights were violated after he was denied access to all evidence used against him. The mother also added that his son was not given the opportunity to present his side.

“The foregoing events speak for themselves. Cadet Cudia was deprived of his right to present evidence on his behalf. How could the PMA-CRAB have arrived at its decision when all it ever perused are the one-sided documents of the Honor Committee,” the petition stated.

Cudia was not allowed to participate in the graduation of Siklab-Diwa batch last Sunday in Baguio City because his appeal is still pending.

Then, last February, the Honor Committee found Cudia guilty of lying and dismissed him from the academy.

The petition also pointed out that Cudia’s propensity to lie is far from the truth as his grades in conduct ranges from 96 to 100.

Cudia’s mother also submitted to the high court the affidavit of Philippine Navy Commander Junjie Tabuada, head of PMA’s Department of Naval Welfare, to prove that one of the eight members originally voted to acquit Cudia in the dishonesty case.

Under the rules, if there is one vote to acquit, he should be acquitted.

Tabuada admitted that he was pressured to change his votes.

Earlier, the high court did not issue a restraining order in Cudia’s bid to graduate. It instead called on the PMA and the military to comment on Cudia’s petition.