SC decision leaves ex-PMA cadet Cudia without a college degree to qualify for UP Law

Dismissed Philippine Military Academy cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia's dreams of becoming a lawyer will have to wait.

 

Just last week, the PMA cadet was among the first 200 students who passed the University of the Philippines Law Aptitude Examination (LAE) for school year 2015-2016.

 

But with the Supreme Court ruling with finality to junk Cudia's petition challenging his dismissal from the military school, Cudia now does not satisfy one of the most basic requirements in being admitted to the college of law.

 

Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Acosta said last Friday that UP allowed Cudia to take the test though he did not have a diploma to present.

 

The PAO represented Cudia in his legal battle to overturn the PMA decision that dismissed him from the academy for lying about why he was late for a class.

 

Requisites

 

According to the UP Law website, the first requirement for being granted a slot in UP Law is a bachelor's degree:

 

"Anyone who has finished or is finishing a four-year bachelor’s degree in the arts or sciences from a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recognized college or university, is qualified to take the examination upon prior application, proper identification and registration."

 

The PAO had known before that Cudia's application to the UP College of Law was provisional

 

"Kasi may transcript siya na may note na (naka) indefinite leave siya," Acosta told GMA News Online.

 

The UP Law website also said graduating students may be admitted provisionally, provided that they show proof that they have finished their undergraduate course before enrolling in the college. 

 

In Cudia's case, his dismissal from military school leaves him lacking the first requirement.

 

UP additionally mentions grounds for disqualification or disapproval of application, including "serious misconduct resulting in disciplinary action (suspension or expulsion, and at any time of the proceeding) in any of the schools attended."

 

It was early 2014 when the PMA Honor Committee found Cudia guilty of lying about the reason why he was late for class, leading to his dismissal from the academy.

PMA Tri-Service Curriculum

The PMA has a curriculum different from those of other higher education institutions. The academy calls it the Tri-Service Curriculum, which has three components:

• the PMA Core Curriculum;
• the Major Service Curriculum (to prepare the cadet for a chosen branch of service); and
• the Specialization Core Curriculum.

GMA News Online is determining if Cudia was able to complete the degree requirements for the engineering field he chose when he was a PMA cadet.  — ELR, GMA News