'Discharged cadets have to pay PMA'

MANILA, Philippines — Cadets discharged from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), once proven at fault, have to return what the government spent for their time in the school.

Col. Rozzano Briguez, PMA Commandant of Cadets, said Thursday that there is an existing policy that might affect dismissed Cadet 1st Class Jeff Aldrin Cudia once President Benigno Aquino III decides to discharge him with finality.

"Technically, isa 'yan sa mga policy natin ... kailangan ibalik if the cadet is at fault," Briguez said in an interview with dzMM.

Cudia was found guilty of "lying" in his reason for his two-minute tardiness in class. Lying is considered a violation of the PMA's Honor Code, which penalizes young military hopefuls with administrative dismissal, which was upheld by the Cadet Review and Appeals Board on Tuesday.

Cudia's sister, Annavee, had said that the state spends about P2 million for each cadet's training.

Cudia's case has been elevated to Aquino after the board concluded a reinvestigation and found no violations in the earlier decision of the Honor Committee to dismiss him.

Also read: Fate of fismissed PMA cadet rests in P-Noy's hands

Briguez said that while Cudia's case will still be decided on by Aquino and Armed Forces of the Philippine Chief of Staff Emmanuel Bautista, it is highly likely that the 2014 class' second highest performer will not join his graduating class in the commencement rites on March 16.

"Kung sakali pong papayagan siyang pwedeng makatapos, may mga requirements po hindi lang natapos this year dahil hindi siya makakasabay sa mga kaklase niya ngayong linggo. Kailangan pong tapusin ang mga requirements niya," Briguez said.

Among such requirements is the hours under an on-the-job training for cadets.

Once the decision to discharge Cudia is final, Briguez said that he may choose to study again without going through all the years in tertiary education.

"Kumpleto po ang academic transcript of records niya, 'yan naman pwede niyang magamit kung sakaling mag-aaral ulit siya," the commanding officer explained.