Cudia will be a 'leper' in military - Ex-AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines - Dismissed cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia should no longer pursue a career in the military since he would only face pressure from fellow soldiers, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said Tuesday.

Biazon, a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the Honor Code of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) which Cudia allegedly violated provides peer pressure to cadets and graduates.

He cited the case of two Honor Code violators who were still allowed to graduate in the 1950s. Biazon lamented that the two soldiers resigned from the service after a few years because of peer pressure.

Fearing that Cudia would suffer the same fate, Biazon advised the cadet to just get his school documents so he can move on in his life, this time as a civilian.

"I would agree with him to get his diploma so that he can start anew but I would advise that he should not anymore stay in the service [and he should] complete his resignation kasi he will be a leper out  there, 'yon ang peer pressure na sinasabi ko," Biazon said at a press conference, a transcript of which was sent to media outfits.

The PMA earlier dismissed Cudia for allegedly violating the academy’s Honor Code which prescribes that a cadet should not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate the same.

Cudia supposedly lied about the reason on why he got into a class two minutes late.

The aspiring soldier accused the PMA honor committee of grave abuse of discretion after its members changed its 8-1 vote to 9-0.

Cudia's appeals were rejected and President Aquino, the military's commander-in-chief, did not reverse the cadet's dismissal after studying the case.

In an interview on ANC last week, Cudia's family said they no longer want him to enter the military because he might be ostracized by 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," Cudia's sister Avee told ANC.