The case of Philippine Military Academy Cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia, who was ordered dismissed from the PMA for alleged "Honor Code" violations, is still undergoing review, Armed Forces of the
"The Cadet Review and Appeals Board is continuing to review the case of Cadet Cudia," he added.
Tutaan also said the PMA is now looking into Cudia's claims that the "Honor Committee" initially voted 8-1 before changing it to 9-0.
A vote of 9-0 is needed to convict and dismiss cadets from the PMA rolls.
The "Honor Committee" is composed of six senior cadets and three junior ones.
"The PMA wants it resolved as soon as possible," Tutaan said.
PMA spokesperson Major Agnes Lynnette Flores said Cudia's case underwent due process.
She made this statement after noting that the officer-in-charge of the "Honor Committee" along with the PMA legal team reviewed the verdict for possible lapses or errors.
After this check, the group then forwarded the case folder to the Commandant of the Corps of Cadets who then submitted it to then PMA superintendent, Vice Admiral Edgar Abogado, for final review.
Cudia was found guilty by the "Honor Committee" of lying and ordered dismissed from the Cadet Corps.
The PMA "Honor Code" considers lying, cheating, and stealing its three top offenses.
With the orders of AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista to re-investigate Cudia's case, the case folder of the latter is now undergoing review by senior officers in the PMA.
No time frame was given on when the review will be concluded.
Should any lapses in the handling of the matter be found, the senior officers will then return the case to the "Honor Committee" for re-investigation.
The PMA earlier stated that all trainees of the institution are duty-bound to adhere to the above-mentioned precepts.
"The development of character and integrity among the cadets is a fundamental objective of the PMA,"
She added that the "Honor Code" and the "Honor System" are among the primary instruments in attaining this objective.
"Members of the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) are bound by the 'Honor Code' which they swore to uphold. The essence of the 'Honor Code' is that the cadets do not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate among them those who do. The 'Honor Code' is absolute and it does not distinguish between the degree of the offense committed. Once they lied, cheated, stole or tolerated the commission of these offenses, there is only one punishment -– separation," the PMA public affairs office chief stressed.
"Cadet Cudia’s case is not an issue about being late in class. While it started as a violation of the regulations, which is coming to class late, the findings of the preliminary investigation conducted revealed a possibility of Cadet Cudia violating the 'Honor Code' which led to the opening of formal investigation by the 'Honor Committee.' While the Academy recognizes his academic performance, this does not exempt him from strict observance of the Code," she pointed out.
"As the breeding ground for future leaders of the AFP, PMA will continue to uphold the tenets of the 'Honor Code' which have been emplaced for generations. This code takes its roots within the heart and continues to live on long after each cadet graduates from the Philippine Military Academy. This binds the Cadet Corps with its alumni or the members of the long gray line,"
And while saddened by the turn of events, she stressed that the PMA cannot be selective in its application of the "Honor Code."
"We are deeply saddened in seeing such 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," she concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=621569
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