PMA cadet fights dismissal order

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduating cadet on leave Aldrin Jeff Cudia has turned the tables on members of the academy’s Honor Committee who ordered his separation from the service after finding him guilty of violating the academy’s Honor Code.

“He filed an honor report (case) against the nine members of the Honor Committee,” PMA spokesman Maj. Agnes Lynnette Flores said yesterday.

She said a separate Honor Committee would investigate Cudia’s allegation that the nine members of the committee that ordered his dismissal erred and violated the Honor Code and the honor system.

Cudia was scheduled to graduate next month as salutatorian of his PMA Silab-Diwa Class of 2014.

While Flores offered no further explanation, ABS-CBN News reported that Cudia said in a statement that the members of the Honor Committee who tried him also lied and cheated, as he reportedly learned that the result of the initial voting had acquitted him, but it was later changed and he was found guilty of telling a lie.

Cudia’s troubles stemmed from his coming two minutes late to one of his classes, for which he was initially meted a penalty of 11 demerits and 13 hours of touring. His three colleagues, on the other hand, got eight demerits and eight hours of touring or marching while carrying rifle.

His different explanation on why he was late for his class, however, got him into deeper trouble, as the Honor Committee later found him guilty of lying.

Cudia claimed that there was one committee member who voted “not guilty” at the beginning and under the rules; one “not guilty” vote is enough to merit the acquittal of an accused.

He claimed that the committee, however, returned to chambers and voted again, this time, coming out with a unanimous “guilty” verdict.

He added that the second proceeding was not mentioned in the minutes of the case, thus he believes that the members of the committee also lied and cheated.

“I am still bound to report any violation of the Honor Code that came to my attention. I believe that the Honor Committee who took charge of my case violated the spirit of the Honor Code, by intending to deceive and intending to take undue advantage,” Cudia’s statement read.

He continued: “Making a statement to me and in front of the committee during the start of the trial that one vote of not guilty is enough to acquit me when in truth and in fact, though the result as initially announced, prior to the chambering was eight guilty, one not guilty, I was still rendered guilty.”

He added that members of the committed cheated by “changing the outcome of the voting through chambering to make me, the respondent, guilty.”

In the name of clarity, fairness and truth, Cudia appealed that his case be reopened and carefully reviewed, as he maintained that he has not violated the Honor Code.