Dismissed PMA cadet presses SC on petition

MANILA, Philippines–Pleading for a new start for their “suffering” loved one, the family of dismissed Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia has asked the Supreme Court to immediately resolve his petition to overturn his discharge from the premier military training school.

In a handwritten letter on behalf of his family, Cudia’s father, Renato, asked the high tribunal to resolve with finality his son’s petition challenging his dismissal from the PMA.

“…[W]e are very worried about our son First Class Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia, who, for almost a year now, has been suffering as if he is in chains and has no future, because of the lack of justice in the penalty that was meted him for what he had done,” said the elder Cudia, in a letter sent to the high court on Monday.

The PMA Honor Committee dismissed Cudia in February last year for lying about why he came late to class. His family cast doubts on the process through which the dismissal order was reached.

The Cudias elevated the case to the Supreme Court last year.

In the letter addressed to the High Court’s Third Division, Cudia’s father asked the Supreme Court to give his son “what he deserves for toiling for four years… so that the taxpayer money spent for him during his time in the academy would not be for nothing.”

“The key to this is in your hands, ma’am, sir. We are hoping that at the soonest possible time, you will put an end to his suffering through a final decision… [giving him] justice, a transcript of records and [allowing] the unconditional issuance of a diploma so that he could start again with a new hope just like the New Year,” he said.

“We are pleading to you and begging that you grant his plea at the soonest possible time,” he added.