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OPINION | An alternative path to a meaningful military career for Jeff Aldrin Cudia

By: Brig. General (Ret) Jesus T. Dizon
March 20, 2014 11:02 AM

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It is not the end of the world for Mr. Cudia if he resigns.

He has an alternate and honorable path to success if he wants to continue in the military service. He could apply for commission in the Reserve Force and if accepted, he could request that he be called to active duty.

In all probability, as could be the policy applied to his classmates in the PMA, Mr. Cudia will be assigned to combat duty. He could then show his worth. His superiors will not be blind to note his outstanding performance and would just be too glad to recommend him for commission in the Regular Force of the AFP.

With his performance, his name in the lineal roster of regular officers could possibly be placed at the tail of his former class, PMA Class 2014.

In due time his former classmates will be proud to “adopt” him as member of Class 2014.

May I appeal to the entire Filipino people to remember that the Philippine Military Academy is your institution. It is the primary source of professional military leaders who are sworn to lead and sacrifice their lives, if need be, to protect our country and people against all threats including to respond to natural calamities and disasters.

Please strengthen, not weaken or destroy its internal systems and the institution itself.

Please don’t tamper with its Honor System.

It is on this aspect that the PMA differentiates itself from other learning institutions.

(...EDITED)

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SC rejects Cudia's 'status quo' plea

By Camille Diola (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Thursday denied Cadet 1st Class Jeff Aldrin Cudia's petition to stop his dismissal from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

In rejecting the urgent motion for status quo ante order, the high court's Third Division ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PMA to submit their explanation on Cudia's petition filed last March 10.

Cudia filed the petition hoping that he would still be included in the graduation rites of his batch last Sunday. He was supposed to graduate as a salutatorian.

(...EDITED)

jvelarde

Mar 24 2014, 01:47 PM

From the other newspaper articles I read about this case, I feel that Cadet Cudia is being used as an example of what happens when there is no pakikisama (in a perverted sense of the word). If the AFP is really serious about modernization, it should start in recruiting the best and the brightest of our youth. They should let Cadet Cudia enroll again and graduate next year.

Maubanin70

Mar 27 2014, 02:45 AM

jvelarde

Mar 24 2014, 01:47 PM

From the other newspaper articles I read about this case, I feel that Cadet Cudia is being used as an example of what happens when there is no pakikisama (in a perverted sense of the word). If the AFP is really serious about modernization, it should start in recruiting the best and the brightest of our youth. They should let Cadet Cudia enroll again and graduate next year.

Your opinion. He's not the first one. Also can't play with words like an attorney, if you are late state why and accept the consequences is that hard to do?

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CHR: PMA Cadet Cudia not guilty of lying, should be granted diploma

Rights body also backs filing of charges vs members of PMA ‘honor committee’

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has found Cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia not guilty of the offense he was charged with in the Philippine Military Academy and recommended to President Benigno Aquino that he be issued a diploma as a graduate of the premier military school.

In presenting the findings and recommendations in the 30-page “Final Report on Cadet Cudia,” CHR Chair Loretta Ann Rosales scolded the PMA leadership’s handling of the case, especially on the aspect of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“The PMA leadership, by failing to exercise command responsibility, rendered itself complicit in this mockery of justice,” Rosales said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Cudia was not allowed to graduate from PMA last March following his dismissal in February after the PMA Honor Committee found him guilty of “lying” in explaining why he was two minutes late for a class.

Cudia said his instructor, Monique Costales, in the previous Management class dismissed them a little bit late and that he was under instruction from Costales to wait for the instructor to give him the section grade.

Cudia appealed the punishment of dismissal given to him, but the PMA Cadet Review and Appeals Board upheld it.

(...EDITED)

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Cudia submits final CHR report to SC

In a 12-page manifestation, Cudia, represented by his parents Renato and Filipina, and assisted by Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta, pointed out key findings in the report, and stressed the following:

- he (Cadet First Class Cudia) "was given nothing but a sham trial [at the PMA], as members of the investigation team were undoubtedly biased and have conflicts of interest against him;

- the 2014 [PMA] Honor Committee violated the Honor Code when it refused to accept one of its members' "not guilty" verdict on Cudia's case;

- the members of the Honor Committee "lied and cheated when they endeavored to change the 8-1 vote to 9-0" and made it "worse" by doing it through a "highly irregular procedure;"

- the members of the Honor Committee "deliberately withheld the truth" in the minutes of their proceedings;

- the members of the Honor Committee and the Cadet Review and Appeals Board "cheated" when they "refused to cooperate" with the CHR in the latter's probe;

- he (Cudia) "did not lie" in his explanation on why he was tardy in one of his classes - the incident which eventually led to his dismissal and failure to graduate as one of the PMA Siklab Diwa Class.

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Cudia won’t graduate; Aquino affirms AFP-PMA decision
By Frances Mangosing |INQUIRER.net7:34 pm | Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

MANILA, Philippines—It’s final: Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia will not graduate from the Philippine Military Academy.

President Benigno Aquino III finally came out with a decision on Cudia months after the investigating board of the PMA submitted their final report to him.

A letter by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa addressed to Cudia’s parents dated June 11 that was obtained by INQUIRER.net stated that Aquino sustains the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the

Philippines and PMA Cadet Review Appeals Board (CRAB), which is not to allow Cudia to graduate from the revered military institution.

Cudia was expelled at the PMA during his senior year after he allegedly lied as to why he was late for class. Lying is a violation in the academy, where there is a strict implementation of the Honor Code that says “one must not lie, cheat and steal nor tolerate those who do.” His sister publicized his plight on Facebook.

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Dismissed PMA cadet wants SC to rule on case

by Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 10/02/2014 3:54 PM | Updated as of 10/02/2014 3:54 PM

In his Motion for Early Resolution, Cudia, through the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), said he wants to move forward and pursue a professional career, which, he said, is not possible unless his case is resolved.

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In his motion, Cudia stressed that "time is of the essence" in his case since he is bent on taking up law studies.

"With every day that passes by, the future of Cadet Cudia--an exceptional student who could be very well be a valuable member of the Philippine Armed Forces--remains at a standstill.

"Thus, without any intent of compulsion and only in pursuances to the higher interest of justice, the petitioner-intervenor most respectfully pleads for the early resolution of the instant case," Cudia's motion read.

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Cudia's camp seeks reversal of SC ruling upholding dismissal

Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 09/10/2015 6:43 PM | Updated as of 09/10/2015 7:57 PM

Supporters of Jeff Aldrin Cudia troop to the Supreme Court on Thursday as Public Attorneys Office chief Persida Acosta filed a motion for reconsideration on Cudia's dismissal by the Philippine Military Academy. Cudia's dismissal was earlier upheld by the Supreme Court. Photo: ABS-CBN News
MANILA - The mother of dismissed Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet 1st Class Aldrin Cudia filed a motion for reconsideration (MR) urging the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its ruling upholding Cudia's dismissal from the academy.

This is the second MR filed by Cudia's camp after the high court junked the first MR on February 24th and ruled with finality against Cudia's petition last April.

In her motion, Filipina Cudia said "n the higher interest of justice, and on equitable and humanitarian considerations, [the SC] may compel the [PMA] to award cadet Cudia with his diploma, a clean transcript of records and a bachelor of science degree, as well as other documents which may facilitate his transfer to an institution of higher learning."

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PAO chief faints at press con for dismissed PMA cadet

ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 09/10/2015 2:57 PM
MANILA - Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta lost consciousness at a press conference for dismissed Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia, Thursday.

Acosta became wrought with emotion while expressing her dismay over the PMA's continued failure to release Cudia's school records.

After passing the microphone to the next speaker, Acosta blanked out and slumped from where she was standing.

The lawyer regained consciousness after being attended to by forensic expert Dr. Erwin Erfe who was present in the event.

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