CHR to PNoy: Let Cudia graduate from PMA 

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday recommended that Aldrin Jeff Cudia, a dismissed cadet of the Philippine Military Academy, be allowed to graduate.

 

In a recommendation letter submitted to the Office of the President, the CHR urged President Benigno Aquino III to allow Cudia to attend the premiere military school's graduation ceremony in Baguio City on Sunday, March 16.

 

Among the recommendations of the CHR are:

 

 

The CHR said its recommendations were based on a fact-finding investigation conducted on Cudia's case, including interviews with about 20 PMA cadets, especially those who were involved in the voting on Cudia's dismissal case.
 

It was earlier reported that the PMA Honor Committee originally absolved Cudia with an 8-1 vote but the lone dissenter was allegedly forced to change his vote to make it appear that the decision was unanimous.

 

According to the PMA, the Honor Committee vote must be unanimous when it decides on the guilt or innocence of a cadet facing a Honor Code violation.

 

"There was a violation of the right to due process of Cadet Cudia and there was an utter disregard of the written processes of the Honor Committee," lawyer Harold Kub-Aron, officer-in-charge of the CHR – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) said in a interview aired on GMA News “24 Oras” Friday evening.

 

Cudia's father, Renato, meanwhile appealed to the President to at least allow his son to get his diploma and transcript of records from the academy even if he is barred from joining the rites.

 

“Ang dalangin po namin ay siya (Pres. Aquino) ay mabigyan ng lakas ng pangangatawan at wisdom, upang magamit niya sa tamang pagdedesisyon (on my son's case),” Renato said.

 

Aquino, as the military's commander-in-chief, has the power to decide on Cudia's case. The Palace earlier said that the President is personally reviewing Cudia's case.

 

Aquino is set to attend the PMA graduation ceremony on Sunday.

 

Meanwhile, Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta, together with the officials of the CHR went to PMA on Friday to meet with the Honor Committee.

 

Cudia's family earlier sought the help of PAO to appeal the dismissed cadet's case.

 

But the PMA earlier said that should Cudia be acquitted, he will still not be able to graduate because he has yet to finish some of his school requirements, specifically his on-the-job training.

 

“I am not sure of the possibilities because there is one requirement Cadet Cudia was not able to comply (with) and that was his OJT,” said PMA public affairs office chief Major Agnes Lynette Flores.

 

Flores also said that being a government scholar, Cudia might be required to return to the PMA an amount of P1.6 million to P1.8 million.

 

“It's not just Cadet Cudia. Remember that he is a government scholar... and in our government, we have a policy na kapag government scholar ka at hindi mo na-comply ang kailangan sa scholarship mo, required ka na ibalik yung ginastos ng gobyerno sa'yo” Flores said.

 

Acosta, on the contrary, said that there is no law that requires government scholars to return the amount the government spent to send them through school.

 

“Wala pong batas na kailangan magsauli. Bakit niya isa-sauli eh wala naman siyang ninakaw? Yung mga nagnakaw ng pera ng bayan ang kailangan magsauli. Pero yung pinaaral ni Juan Dela Cruz, hindi kailang magsauli, isasauli lang nila through public service,” Acosta said.

 

Cudia's case stems from his tardiness, by two minutes, for a class in November 2013.

 

He claimed his class had been dismissed late, causing him to arrive late for his next class.

 

The Honor Committee however decided Cudia's statement was a lie since he was not dismissed late but was made to wait after class to receive a document from his professor. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News