AFP forms panel to probe into dismissed PMA cadet's case 

(Updated 2:12 p.m.) The Armed Forces of the Philippines has formed a special investigation board that will look into the the case of dismissed Philippine Military Academy Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia.

"Upon the instruction of the President, the [AFP] Chief of Staff has created a special investigation board headed by Major General Crisologo Naybe," AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Wednesday.

The five-member board has been formally formed on Tuesday. Naybe, who is also a PMA alumnus, is currently at the military school in Baguio City to conduct the investigation, Zagala said.

Naybe is currently the deputy chief of staff for communication, electronics and information systems. 

Zagala said AFP chief  General Emmanuel Bautista has yet to receive Cudia's written appeal.

Still, even without Cudia's appeal, the AFP will proceed to the investigation as instructed by the President, Zagala said.

"Ito ay special investigation board na nagmula dito sa general headquarters... Sa ngayon, 'yung instruction ng Pangulo 'yun ay isang basehan sa pag-uumpisa ng imbestigasyon,"  he told reporters in a separate interview.

"Dito pinakikita ng ating Pangulo na gusto nyang maging fair at makita ng publiko na tinitingnan din ng Pangulo ang plight ni Cadet Cudia," he added. 

On Saturday, the day before the graduation of the PMA "Siklab Diwa" Class of 2014, the camp of Cudia met with President Benigno Aquino III to talk about the case. The President asked Cudia to put into writing their appeal so that the military could carry out a separate investigation into the issue.

Cudia had been found guilty by the Honor Committee for lying in his explanation why he was two minutes late for a class. The former cadet said in his explanation their professor dismissed him late so he was late for his next class. However, the Honor Committee tagged this as a lie since he was technically made to wait by his professor and not dismissed late.

For violating the PMA Honor Code, Cudia was dismissed from the country's premier military school last month as recommended by the Honor Committee. However, he failed to leave the premises of PMA, forcing his fellow cadets to ostracize him.

The 22-year-old cadet left Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City on Sunday night after his batch-mates graduated from the military school.

Asked what Cudia can expect from the AFP probe, Zagala said: "Let us allow the special investigation board first to complete the investigation."

This is the first time in recent history that an internal PMA issue would be investigated by the AFP, Zagala added.

Life after PMA

Meanwhile, a relative of Cudia who refused to be named said the former PMA cadet is now "doing well" after leaving the institution.

"He missed eating balut and warm food kasi matagal nang puro malamig na ang food na nakakain nya during the time that he was held," she told GMA News Online.

"He very much wants to go out, watch a movie and go to the mall, but is restricted to do so yet for his own protection," she noted.

As for the members of the ex-cadet's family, the relative said they were still "hurting."

"Of course the pain of not seeing Aldrin graduate remains... the only good thing now is we are not worried of his safety as much as we were before," she said.

"Surprisingly, instead of Aldrin getting strength from us, it's the other way around. He's the one telling everyone to be strong enough and to [ignore] his critics," she added. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News