Cudia not joining PMA graduation as PNoy hands probe over to AFP chief

From InterAksyon (Mar 15): Cudia not joining PMA graduation as PNoy hands probe over to AFP chief

Aldrin Cudia will not be joining the graduation ceremonies of Philippine Military Academy “Sikab Diwa” Class of 2014 on Sunday as President Benigno Aquino III left the fate of the cadet first class hanging, deciding to hand the case back to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista.

This was the agreement reached between Cudia’s family and Aquino during their meeting in Baguio City Saturday afternoon, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

In a statement Saturday evening, Gazmin said he and Aquino had met with Cudia’s family “and heard them out” earlier in the day.

“They had appeals, requests and also raised some issues,” Gazmin said. “We made sure that they were given every opportunity to air their side.”

The Defense chief said that, at the end of the meeting, “we recommended that they (Cudias) formalize their appeals, requests and other concerns in writing.”

“It was agreed that Cadet First Class Cudia will not graduate tomorrow, without prejudice to whatever will be the result of their new appeal, which is now elevated to (Bautista), whom the President directed to investigate,” Gazmin added.

Cudia was supposed to graduate with honors.

However, he was found guilty of violating the PMA Honor Code for allegedly lying about why he was late for a class and was recommended for dismissal by the school’s honors committee.

Cudia and his family have protested the decision, claiming there was an anomaly in the vote of the honors committee. They claimed that the committee had changed the original 8-1 vote to make it unanimous, a requirement for a decision to dismiss a cadet.

The PMA review board upheld the honors committee decision and endorsed this to Bautista who, in turn, submitted this to the Office of the President.

PMA cadets are presidential appointees.

Earlier Saturday, ABS Professionals party-list Representative Catalina Leonen-Pizarro visited Cudia and said the cadet was hopeful Aquino would rule in his favor but that "he would accept whatever the decision would be."

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/82785/cudia-not-joining-pma-graduation-as-pnoy-hands-probe-over-to-afp-chief