MANILA, Philippines - The sister of First Class cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia broke down in tears in a television interview on Wednesday as she expressed her disappointment over the culture in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
In an interview on ANC, Avee Cudia said those behind the controversial dismissal of her brother were the ones who violated the academy's Honor Code of "Courage, Integrity and Loyalty."
"They didn't have the courage to face the facts. They didn't have the courage to face the truths. They didn't have the integrity, at hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang loyalty nila," Avee said.
Avee's brother, who was supposed to graduate No.2 in his class, was dismissed by the PMA for allegedly violating the academy’s Honor Code when he lied on why he was two minutes late for a class.
Lawyer Persida Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), said Cudia's dismissal lacked due process since he was not provided with a lawyer for him to make an appeal.
She said the PMA also did not cite a reason for denying the cadet's motion to extend the period of appeal.
Read: Cadet's dad, PAO chief urge Noy to reverse dismissal
Despite the controversy, Avee said her brother, who remains at the PMA holding center, seems to stay in high spirits.
"Tumatawa pa rin po siya sa akin. Hindi ko po siya nakikitaan ng low morale," she said.
It was herself, Avee said, who seems to be affected the most by the incident since she is now facing a moral dilemma.
"Sa nangyari po ngayon, parang iniisip ko, ano po ba yung definition ng mali at tama ngayon?" she asked. "Kasi kung ito yung sinasabi nila na tama, tama ba pa yung tinuturo sa eskwelehan namin nung bata kami na kapag mali, itama mo 'yan?"
In the ANC interview, Avee also had a short question to President Benigno Aquino III, the military's commander-in-chief.
"What do you think is right? Sa tingin po ninyo ano po 'yung tama?" Avee said.
'Conflict of interest,' ostracism
Avee also suspected that there was a conflict of interest during the preliminary investigation on his brother's case.
She claimed that among those who conducted the probe were Cudia's fellow would-be graduates who were also in the competition for the honor roll.
Avee said her brother simply ignored this at first. But now, he feels that the probe was not done professionally.
"Sabi po ng kapatid ko sa akin: 'Ate, ang bata-bata ko palang, pero naranasan ko na ang masakit na katotohanan. Akala ko professional sila, ngayon pala may personalan,'" Avee said.
And even if her brother is acquitted, Avee said she no longer wants him to enter the military since he would be ostracized by his fellow soldiers.
"Hindi po sa linalahat ko sila, pero may nagsabi na po sa kanila na humanda siya (Cudia) kapag na-comission siya, pagpapasapasahan namin siya," she said.
Wasted efforts, opportunities
Cudia's family regrets that everything he has worked for in the academy will be wasted.
Renato Cudia said it would still be fine with him if the PMA reverses its decision and allows his son to graduate, even without honors.
"Sana doon po sa apat na taon na pingahihirap niya na dinanas niya doon, eh bigyan naman po siya ng pagkakataon na makatapos doon at matanggap man lamang po niya yung bunga ng kanyang paghihirap," the older Cudia told ANC.
With his scholastic records, Avee said her brother is supposed to receive the Navy Saber during his graduation and be entitled to foreign schooling.
"[Sa kanya] po dapat lahat 'yon," Avee said.