PNoy to PMA cadets: Do not lie or cheat as officers

(Updated 6:58 p.m.) A day after dismissed Philippine Military Academy cadet Aldrin Cudia met with President Benigno Aquino III, the chief executive referenced the very offense that led to Cudia’s dismissal in his speech during the school's graduation rites on Sunday.

“Kaya naman ang hamon sa ating lahat: Kung tungkulin nating pairalin ang honor dode sa loob ng institusyong ito, panindigan din sana natin sa labas ng PMA,” Aquino told the graduating cadets of the PMA.

The PMA's Honor Committee found Cudia guilty of lying about his reason for being late for a class, a violation that led to his dismissal from the academy.
 
But Cudia's family has alleged irregularities in how the committee voted on his case, asking Aquino to overturn the decision.

Late Saturday evening, Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin confirmed that Cudia would not be marching with the rest of the Siklab Diwa class of 2014.

Honor code outside the PMA

For those who did graduate on Sunday, Aquino made it clear that the Honor Code that the PMA reveres should apply even outside the school, saying that PMA grads should be the first to report irregularities in the government that they have pledged to serve.

“Kung bawal magsinungaling sa klase at sa kapwa kadete, ‘di ba’t hindi rin dapat hayaan ang sinuman, kapwa man sundalo o karaniwang mamamayan, na linlangin at paikut-ikutin ang kapwa at ang Saligang Batas? “ Aquino said.

The president added that the code, which has been criticized for forming part of the secretive tradition of the PMA in light of Cudia’s dismissal, should be a challenge for all PMA graduates.

“Kung mahigpit na itinatakwil ang pandaraya sa mga pagsusulit, iwasan din sana ang panlalamang sa procurement ng mga armas at kagamitan. Kung may parusa ang pangungupit ng gamit sa kaeskuwela, tumulong din kayong panagutin ang nagnanakaw sa pondong pinagpawisan ng taumbayan,” Aquino said.

The president also reminded the graduating cadets that while they endured and have triumphed after four years of intensive training, their real work as soldiers has only just begun.

“Apat na taon kayong hinubog ng institusyong ito upang isabuhay ang kagitingan, integridad, at katapatan. Subalit saka pa lamang magsisimula ang tunay na mga pagsubok sa pagiging kawal paglabas ninyo rito sa Fort del Pilar. Gaya ng mga nauna sa inyo, haharap kayo sa sangandaan; susubukin ang inyong prinsipyo ng ilang mapanlamang, sisilawin nila kayo ng yaman at kapangyarihan,” Aquino said, challenging the graduates to serve with honor.

Also, as part of PMA tradition, President pardoned "all outstanding punishments of the underclass men: second class, third class, fourth class of the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as recommended by the superintendent PMA effective today."

Valedictory address

Meanwhile for his part, class valedictorian Cadet First Class (CFC) Jheorge Millena Llona also called on his fellow graduates to heed the challenge of the honor code.

“Nararapat lamang na ating isapuso ang mga aral na itinuro ng ating pinakamamahal na Akademya: courage, integrity at loyalty, na mas pinatibay pa ng ating Honor Code,” Llona said in his speech.

The 22-year-old farmer's son earned top marks to graduate first in his class, despite financial struggles that earlier forced him to drop out of an accountancy course.

In his speech, Llona recognized the hardships that all cadets endured, thanking those who helped them graduate.

“Mapalad tayong magsisipagtapos, hinubog tayo ng PMA upang magampanan ang mga gawain natin bilang mga lider sa AFP,” Llona said.

Llona also thanked his parents, saying they were his inspiration to do well in class.

“Nais kong pasalamatan ang aking mga magulang. Inaalay ko ang mga parangal at diploma ko sa inyo, kayo ang inspiration ko para magpursige,” he said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/BM, GMA News