– Rappler.com, He monitored the national controversy over the dismissal of Cadet Jeff Cudia, who was. This kid worked so hard and endured so much (never cheated) for 4 years to be among the top then for such a flimsy reason, you will deprive him of serving the country?,” wrote Ched Estigoy Arzadon in a Facebook post on February 9. The PMA, however, did not disclose the specific Honor Code violation that Cudia supposedly committed. or "AWOL, Sir!". Because of Cudia, who failed to graduate on March 16, the Honor Code is now part of a heated national debate. A PMA cadet who violates the Honor Code is required to undergo a trial by his peers, in this case, a cadet honor committee representing all cadet levels. Other rooms turned empty. "Do not cover up the 8-1 that became 9-0 and explain to me that it is the current practice. Stealing 5 centavos is the same as stealing P5 million. But his deeply ingrained commitment to the absolutes of the PMA Honor Code prevailed. Ang masaklap ay HINDI SYA KINAUSAP ng mga matataas na opisyal sa PMA at nakinig lamang sa tactical officer at sa Honor Committee." Cadets are trained to follow orders. The PMA’s Code of Conduct: Not something that can be applied to civilians By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Until but a few days ago, the Honor Code of the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was hardly bruited about outside the walls of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) since its existence decades and decades ago. Explained Llave: "People focus on the process as if finding fault in the Committee when the real fault is... Cudia's lying. Lo and behold! Larry explained that reform doesn't mean changing the honor system drastically. The SC ruling said, however, that the PMA Honor Code should be respected. MANILA, Philippines – Several Facebook posts stirred a debate on the practices inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), in particular the Honor Code, just as the school prepared for the arrival of thousands of alumni for their annual homecoming Saturday, February 15. It was decided that he lied and violated the Honor Code. Aside from physical examination, Brawner plans to launch a program that will focus on the cadets’ mental health “to make sure that everybody who remains in the Cadet Corps are mentally fit,” he said. (READ: Did Cadet Cudia lie? According to the academy’s website, the PMA’s honor code is a “unique system” administered by the cadets to themselves. The committee's process is theirs alone and no one can change that or dictate how it should have been.". And they're right. But he would not elaborate. The code implores cadets: "We, the cadets, do not lie, steal or tolerate among us those who do so.”. The class he belonged to originally had about 200 members. When the result of the vote is 8-1 or 7-2, the members discuss their votes and they will repeat the voting. The Philippine Military Academy has an honor code that is supposedly strictly enforced. Cudia's story provided civilians a rare glimpse into the secretive proceedings of the military school. Like in the case of Cudia’s foster parents, there have been previous attempts “to go against the system.”. Cadets disappeared night after night until up to 50 of them resigned or went on AWOL (Absence Without Leave), according to a recollection of one of those who left the academy at the time. When they take their oath as plebes, these young men and women surrender their civil rights and subject themselves to military justice. You eat alone in the mess hall. After all, many PMA graduates have been linked to dishonorable conduct: corruption, kidnapping, murder, among others. The PMA now will be given the opportunity to explain why they will decide this way," said Flores. It is meant to protect the reputation of the cadets so they can pursue careers outside the academy without the stigma of a code violation, the insider explained. (They're picking on Cudia. He monitored the national controversy over the dismissal of Cadet Jeff Cudia, who was found guilty of lying about the reason he was late in a class. But not honor violations. In 1956, the entire cadet corps threatened to resign when outsiders intervened in their internal proceedings. 2 minutes late for class, PMA cadet dismissed? The social media posts have been the talk of the town in military circles. Others did not wait to be called; they just left PMA. But it was not carried out. It is not about what one’s loved ones, friends and other supporters thoughts and feelings. Some of Larry's former classmates are still active in the military. This option is tough. And for all the Philippine military's ugly history, McCoy notes that the country has repeatedly resisted attempts to install a military regime, inspite of the trend that once swept the region. (A company is a military unit composed of anywhere between 80-200 soldiers). She said Cudia was slapped with 11 demerits and 13 hours of touring (marching) as punishment for his tardiness. "Nonetheless, even though the procedure and some aspects of the system will be changed, kung mayroon man babaguhin (if there are some things that would be changed), the tenets of the honor code – 'We, the cadets do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do' – hindi po iyon magbabago. "The PMA should also teach justice, not only honor," said Larry. Click the link to continue registering. Some would be so dedicated to the code that they report themselves for honor violations. Dismissal is all too common, but it is harder to get younger alumni to share these stories because they are still in the service. "This recent case of a cadet, just like all honor cases in PMA, has gone through due process. They don't talk to you. Cadet First Class Aldrin Jeff Cudia was a member of Siklab Diwa Class of 2014 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) at Fort Gregorio del Pilar in Baguio City. "When you impose a harsh and cruel penalty on a small offense, it is an injustice.". As a senator, Lacson once angered fellow PMA alumni when he invoked the PMA Honor Code and publicly questioned an upperclassman’s integrity. By signing up you agree to Rappler’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy. This includes the belief that the Honor Committee, although composed only of students, is an absolute authority. Bata pa lamang si Aldrin ay palatanong na at palabasa pa. Masama na po pala ang magtanong. Siya lang ang titser na nagbigay ng mababang grado sa kapatid ko dahil matanong siya sa klase. But because of the honor system, marami sa amin hindi garapal at hindi kurakot (many of us are not shameless and corrupt)," he added. Check your spam & junk mail. "May mga batas na tayo ngayon na noon araw, noong panahon namin, ay wala pa itong ang mga batas na ito kagaya ng Interntional Humanitarian Law, yung Human Rights, marami nang naidagdag na noong araw ay wala pa ganiyang batas kaya wala kami nava-violate," Gazmin said. PMA superintendent Maj. Gen. Oscar Lopez on Tuesday said he has reaffirmed the recommendation of the former PMA superintendent, retired Vice Adm. Edgar Abogado, that Cudia be separated from military service for violating the Honor Code. Brewing tempest at PMA: Top DND exec ‘intervened’ in cadet’s Honor Code issue PMA Public Information Officer Captain Cheryl Tindog told CNN Philippines on Wednesday that the cadet had been discharged last year due to a violation of the PMA Honor Code… Document show details). The following day, they took the exam. Is it bad to ask questions? Military training at PMA, largely patterned after the US armed forces, may have helped instill the concept of civilian supremacy in soldiers, he argues. By signing up you agree to Rappler’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy. They could impose unjust and unfair penalty on small offenses," he said. PMA graduates said there is a relatively tolerable punishment for tardiness under the PMA Graybook. And it's not dismissal, they said. Some cases even reached the courts, according to an alumnus. Other supposed changes in the honor system continue to split the alumni. The Honor Committee that implements the code is composed entirely of PMA students. Check your spam & junk mail. "Mayroon kailangan pag-aralan kasi may mga hindi na angkop (Some aspects have to be studied since some are no longer appropriate)," Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told reporters on Sunday, March 16, after the graduation rites. Let violations of regular sanctions be made in a graduated manner. The PMA Honor Code was copied from West Point. It was exactly what they had studied on review night. Please pray that this fine young man will find another chance to serve the country and his family.” Her Facebook posts on the issue are public. PMA Honor Code primitive Proof that 1st Class Cadet Aldrin Jeff P. Cudia did not lie in his explanations why he was late for two minutes in his English class It turns out that the PMA is primitive in implementing the Honor Code it copied from the US Army Academy (West Point). Under the Honor Code, one is expected to say “All right” to mean he did not violate the code. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, newly-resigned commandant of the Corps of Cadets, said the following were sanctioned for violating the PMA Honor Code: The PMA Honor Code states that a cadet should "not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those among them who do so." The Honor System is central to the rewiring of the cadets from civilians to soldiers. “[Our honor code is] perfect in itself but the implementation is sometimes different among the cadets, among the company,” Brawner noted. The Code each Cadet pledged to from the moment they entered the Academy. (On Tuesday afternoon, the military spokesman announced that Armed Forces chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista has ordered a reinvestigation of Cudia's case.). And it all started with the story of a handsome cadet who was dating an instructor, who in turn leaked to him an examination paper. It adjusts to the requirements of the present time," said PMA spokesperson Major Lynette Flores. What they discuss and the processes they execute are completely confidential even to the PMA command – unless complaints are brought up to the superintendent. The post also claims that the committee vote asking him to quit was not unanimous, but that the one who wanted to absolve Cudia was supposedly persuaded to change his mind. (You're treated like a dog.) There is one account from a former PMA cadet who said some cadets involved were able to evade the honor committee and managed to stay. A recent Facebook post by Cudia's sister Anavee offers a narrative of what happened. "Civilians will never understand," they told us in interviews. The cadets are told that the Honor Code is absolute. It was such a sad time at the academy, recalled an underclassman of the batch involved. (READ: The PMA Honor Code implores cadets not to lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those among them who do so. He topped his Navy class and is a deputy class baron, a key leadership position. We just sent a link to your inbox. But lack of transparency always raises questions. A cadet who is found guilty by his peers of violating the Honor Code is expected to “resign honorably.” It's a gentleman's agreement. He has another option: to stay in the service but face ostracism. Check your spam & junk mail. Since Rappler broke the story on Cudia's dismissal, we received several leads about other alleged injustices committed by the Honor Committee. It's a culture that binds alumni together and they are very protective of the code. FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — Saying “it was wrong for a cadet to die in the hands of his fellow cadets,” the superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has said officials may use the Honor Code to compel cadets to reveal cases of maltreatment occurring inside the state’s premier military school. West Point's own cheating controversy in 1976 led to modifications to its honor system to allow a "developmental alternative" to the previous single sanction of permanent separation. We just sent a link to your inbox. Aside from the PAO, the Commission on Human Rights called for the reversal of the PMA ruling. A PMA insider told Rappler that the story is “deeper” and that the case involves a violation of the sacred PMA Honor Code. It was 1986, and an entire company of PMA cadets was accused of participating in a cheating ring, a violation of the PMA Honor Code. But it is not the complete story, according to some military officers who spoke on condition of anonymity since they had no authority to speak on the issue. Was Cudia’s offense so grave as to merit a dismissal? The honor system is for, of and by the cadets. The controversy comes at a perfect time because the PMA system is currently under review. Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia, the controversial Philippine Military Academy cadet dismissed for violating the Honor Code, will not join the graduation rites on Sunday, March 16. Document show details. “The problem is not the whole culture or institution but a few bad eggs," she said. The source said Guillermo’s admission was the “honorable thing to do” although she did not say why she did what she did. He gained public sympathy, but PMA alumni would repeatedly say: "Civilians will never understand." During the nightly room inspections, many reported their missing roommates to be either "Resigning, Sir!" Honor violations are internal to the cadets but senior alumni eventually talk about them. He rose in the ranks and eventually earned the respect of his classmates. This means he or she cannot be commissioned anymore in the military. That is basic)," Flores said. This massive cheating committed by Larry's PMA class in the late 1980s has become legendary in military circles. Check your spam & junk mail. Even the institution that the PMA looked up to as a model, the US Military Academy at West Point, introduced changes in its honor system after a cheating controversy 3 decades ago. Can’t find it? Cadets are wired differently. We did not violate anything because back then, there were no such laws.). A cadet is given the option to stay under supervision, for example. He approached his tactical officer to appeal the punishment. Rappler has been trying to get the side of the academy since Saturday, but the spokesperson refused so far to give a statement. It is a group that is utterly feared because it can make you leave the PMA. Did Cadet Cudia lie? Larry said he certainly did not want to leave. The PMA Honor Code is a set of rules that the cadet binds themselves. It's a proposal that will certainly meet opposition. "The system is dynamic. "Although outsiders find them silly, the endless rituals of haircuts, saluting, and recitations are all statements of subordination," writes Alfred McCoy in Closer than Brothers, a book on how the PMA molded officers who eventually shaped the history of the country. “All right, sir?,” Lacson asked then Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes during a Cabinet Question Hour in the Senate. The Code is simple but sacred to them: a cadet does not lie, cheat, steal [or] tolerate [the] violation of the Code [by] his or her fellow cadets. The issue of honor, after all, is bigger than Cudia's graduation. How much of the proceedings can be kept confidential when at stake is the future of promising cadets? (We now have laws that were not there during our time, like International Humanitarian law, [International] Human Rights [Law]. On The PMA Cadet’s Honor Code. They vandalize your room and your uniform. Cudia is getting a lot of sympathy as the family’s Facebook posts continue to spread in social media. Was Cudia’s offense so grave as to merit a dismissal? The Honor Code is a curious culture inside the academy that binds alumni together. But PMA Commandant Colonel Rozzano Briguez eventually explained that there was no irregularity because these changes in the voting process have been accepted by the cadets. "Napag-initan si Aldrin ng kanyang tactical officer kaya naging makitid ang kanyang pag-iisip sa pagpataw ng kaparusahan. The family is hoping the decision can be reversed. In a media briefing Tuesday, Brig. He supports an earlier proposal of graduated penalty for violators – demerits and touring for the first offense, suspension for a second offense, and dismissal for a third. Exiting the registration flow at this point will mean you will loose your progress, MANILA, Philippines (Updated) – Cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) knew something terrible had happened. This cadet – without saying it was a leaked reviewer – shared the paper with fellow cadets in the company, who also passed it on to other cadets in other companies. These cases have always been strictly confidential. But isn't that one and the same thing? "We do not wait to be challenged by another cavalier. But after years of reflection on the 1986 incident, Larry realized that there is something missing in the PMA honor system. It is not clear if the decision is final or if the only reason for his dismissal is indeed what his foster parent is claiming: that he was late for 2 minutes in class. They could not be immediately verified, however. He eventually resigned as a 2nd Lieutenant because of the way he was treated by his cavaliers, according to a graduate. "I do hope this will open an opportunity for the public to really weigh the sides, not only the one they seemingly perceived because of the information released by the side of Cudia. FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio CityA top official of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) said the recent decision of the Supreme Court (SC) upholding the dismissal of cadet first-class Alvin Jeff Cudia because of grave violation of the Academys age-old honor code has strengthened the institutions standards for due process and academic freedom. They were surprised, said Larry, but most of them kept quiet about it until one cadet reported it to the Honor Committee. It is all about the Code. Click the link to continue signing in. This was after Guillermo was tried for “several months” by the PMA’s Honor Code Committee composed of cadets from fourth to first class. Larry was devastated to discover that not much has changed since he was "unfairly" forced to leave PMA three decades ago. Dinepensahan ng PMA ang naging hatol nila sa kadete. “He can graduate but what is the consequence? But he chose to fight back – filing an appeal, accusing Honor Committee members of breaking the code themselves, and seeking an audience with the commander-in-chief, President Benigno Aquino III. He's always been like that since he was a kid. It binds PMA cadets to the following principle — “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor (sic) tolerate among us those who do.” That honor code should also apply to PMA officials. For violating the Honore Code, one cadet in the 1990s was discharged shortly before his graduation. The PMA spokeswoman welcomes the President's decision to re-investigate Cudia's case. One member of the Honor Committee voted to acquit Cudia in the first vote but he changed his mind in the second vote. He filed a case against the members of the Honor Committee who declared a guilty verdict on Cudia. Cudia has filed honor violation charges against fellow cadets composing the Honor Committee who voted to dismiss him from PMA. "A half lie is still a lie," he said. "A cadet found guilty has lost his moral ascendancy and is no longer effective within the cadet corps. One cadet who decided to go against the system chose the other option: stay but get ostracized. On review night, cadets gathered to help each other study for the exams. It states: “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do.” The unnamed third class cadet, who committed the violation “last year” when she was still a plebe, underwent a trial initiated by the PMA Honor Committee for “several months.” “The unthinkable happened," Arzadon posted on Facebook February 11. PMA alumnus Dado Enrique is opposed to the change. found guilty of lying about the reason he was late in a class. A former chairman of the Honor Committee, he surprised cavaliers when he took on Cudia's battle and agreed to become his foster parent. The cadets enforce and police the system themselves. He avoided Lacson's question and replied: “Your honor, I’m still under oath.”, Years later, after getting dragged into the "pabaon" corruption scandal in the military, Reyes committed suicide in 2011. "Sabi ng Honor Committee ay kasinungalingan daw yun at dapat daw ay sinabi niya "pinahintay kami ng propesor pagkatapos ng klase." He refused to be named so let's call him Larry. You will be re-directed to our payment partner to complete your payment. "He was denied the chance to fulfill his dream to serve as a soldier…. "Nagpapalakas sa amin ang madaming taong tumutulong at nagdadasal para sa amin. He had a good reason because a teacher in an earlier class dismissed them late. The defense-military establishment said it is reviewing the honor system to make it suitable to the times. The tactical officer is very strict, giving my brother low grades because he asks a lot of questions in class. In the past, the Honor Committee voted on a case only once. Can’t find it? It states: “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us … Exiting the registration flow at this point will mean you will loose your progress. While he knew he was guilty of violating the Honor Code, he felt that his infraction was not commensurate to a resignation. He rose in the ranks and eventually earned the respect of his classmates. The Honor Code governs the behavior of the Corps of Cadets as well as PMA alumni, and ensures that cadets “will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” Most cadets with problems often clam up when interrogated by academy officials, Evangelista said. But he is also "glad" because he sees an opportunity for the academy to "improve.". It also made alumni realize that the honor system has been tweaked through the years. A Cadet Honor Code is a system of ethics or code of conduct applying to military cadets studying at military academies. How much of the proceedings can be kept confidential when at stake is the future of promising cadets? What makes the case heartbreaking is that Cudia is supposed to graduate with honors in March. The PMA alumni would discover that "chambering" is now allowed in the proceedings. He resigned but he was able to join the military through the Officer Cadet School (OCS). Click the link to continue registering. A few months before graduation in November 2013, Cudia was reported to the Honor Committee (HC) for violation of the Honor Code. – Rappler.com. All throughout the controversy, the PMA had been tightlipped about the details of Cudia's case. It airs Mondays to Fridays at 11:30 PM (PHL Time) on GMA-7. (What the committee said was that he lied because he could have said he was made to wait for his professor. "Aso ang trato sa iyo," explained a graduate. ", Larry, however, argued: "Character formation is a process. The school received widespread flak online over what is perceived to be a petty reason to dismiss a graduating cadet. The PMA Honor Code is a set of rules which govern the behavior of its cadets and alumni. The people who know what happened will ostracize him.”, Another graduate said: “Cadets who resign get more respect.”. The Philippine Military Academy is governed by an honor code, and it binds the cadets to the following principle — “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do.”. Arzadon is the foster parent of Cudia who hails from Pampanga. Cheating, lying, and stealing are major honor code violations. You also want the cadets to really believe in the system, not just fear it." They kick you around. In the PMA tradition, a junior cannot question an upperclassman in public. A PMA insider defended the confidentiality of the proceedings. Even if we lose this fight many people are now aware of what really happened.). A PMA graduate fears this could happen to Cudia if he insists on going against the system. In the past, a son of a high-ranking general and even the chairman of the Honor Committee were forced to resign over supposed violations of the Honor Code. It is not the first time that a cadet is dismissed over alleged violations of the Honor Code, but PMA graduates are not used to seeing Facebook posts about actions imposed on cadets. "Molded by constant repetition, cadets are trained to accept authority without question," McCoy says. MANILA - Embattled Philippine Military Academy cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia is fighting back after he was recommended for dismissal from the country's premier military school for supposedly violating the Honor Code. "We have all the power and we have low salaries. Apparently, they were dismissed on time but the professor asked them to wait after class because he was going to give them something. Because of this, Larry left PMA with a broken heart, abandoning his dream to become a soldier. "If that is the culture imbibed by the cadets, when they go out, they could actually impose heavy penalties on small offenses. Kung matalo man kami, madaming tao na ang nakakaalam ng nangyari," she said. The military hierarchy appears to be ready for reforms. Reyes was being grilled over accusations of corruption. When Cudia was asked why he was late, he supposedly said: The professor dismissed them late. It is better to admit your mistake than wait for others to report you. As members of this committee, select cadets receive complaints from any cadet from first to senior year. Saksi is GMA Network's late-night newscast hosted by Arnold Clavio and Vicky Morales. One by one the cadets went through the Honor Committee investigation. It serves as a deterrence to do something wrong.". The PMA Honor Code implores cadets not to lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those among them who do so. The real test is a challenge to ourselves. We just sent a link to your inbox. This was another incident when the PMA's Honor System grabbed headlines. He is a PMA alumnus himself who would rise in the ranks to become the chief of the Philippine Army. You will be re-directed to our payment partner to complete your payment. Anavee said they will fight it out. The controversy raises questions about the secretive nature of this military process. He is concerned about how severe punishments could adversely affect the future of cadets. Lopez said the PMA had reviewed the honor code and the honor system, and had drawn up new rules. Hindi ba pareho lang naman yun?," Anavee wrote. ), Anavee added that Cudia's tactical officer is not very fond of him. (Our resolve is strengthened by the support we're getting. Under the PMA's Honor Code, Cudia was expected to "resign honorably." What made this worse was that no PMA official ever tried to talk to him to listen to his side.). Click the link to continue signing in. The United States Naval Academy and United States Coast Guard Academy have a related standard, known as the Honor Concept. Philippine Military Academy Cadet Jeff Aldren Cudia was dismissed from the Philippine Military Academy mainly because of a violation of the "Honor Code… Can’t find it? We just sent a link to your inbox. It states: "We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do so." Can’t find it? In his keynote speech at the alumni homecoming last Saturday, former senator Panfilo Lacson spoke about the Honor Code and criticized PMA graduates who have abandoned it. In the United States, these codes exist at the Federal Service Academies, such as the United States Military Academy and the United States Air Force Academy and at the Senior Military Colleges, as well as other military schools and colleges.