MANILA, Philippines - The father of cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia and the chief of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) want President Benigno Aquino III to review and correct the controversial dismissal of the aspiring soldier, who is supposed to graduate as class salutatorian this month.
Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Renato Cudia said he wants his son to graduate - even without honors - from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to receive the fruit of his four-year hardships in the premiere military school in Baguio City.
"Kung nakikinig po ngayon ang ating mahal na Pangulo... Nawa po ay bigyan naman po nila ng katarungan itong aking anak na nagnanais din po namang mamuhay ng mapayapa," the older Cudia said.
First Class Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia was set to graduate this month as No. 2 in his class. But he was dismissed by the PMA for allegedly violating the academy’s Honor Code when he lied about why he was two minutes late for a class.
Lawyer Persida Acosta, chief of the PAO, said they have the testimony of a PMA professor proving that he asked Cudia to stay longer in class to wait for his grade, disallowing the cadet to arrive on time for his next subject.
'Lack of due process, unconstitutional'
With these testimonies that they have gathered, Acosta believes that there was a lack of due process when the PMA board decided to dismiss Cudia.
Acosta also pointed out that Cudia was not provided with a lawyer when he was given time to make an appeal. And when the PMA board denied his motion to extend the period of appeal, Acosta said the academy did not even state a reason.
She said they also have the testimony of the PMA naval warfare department head who had a conversation with a member of the honor committee who was forced to change his vote to dismiss Cudia.
A portion of that conversation, which was read during the ANC interview, said: "Talagang not guilty ang vote ko sa kanya (Cudia) sir... Chinamber ako sir, bale pinapa-justify kung bakit not-guilty ang vote ko, at na-pressure din ako sir kaya binago ko sir."
Acosta said this violates the Constitution itself.
"Dapat yung pagboto, bukal sa puso yan eh. Kasi buhay at kapalaran ng kadete 'yan eh," Acosta said. "Sa ating Constitution, no person shall be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law. Pero kung ganyang merong parang perceived anomaly, aba'y dapat tignan po ng AFP ito."
The public lawyer also said that there was a lack of transparency in the proceedings of the investigation on Cudia's dismissal.
Until today, Acosta said they don't have copies of the PMA's probe findings and minutes of the hearings.
"Basta nag-aabang na lang sa internet itong pamilya (Cudia's) kung anong ipapalabas na statement nila (PMA)," she said.
Appeal to AFP, Aquino
The PAO chief said she will now appeal to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) before proceeding to Malacañang as a last resort.
"Nanawagan po ako kay [AFP] Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Bautista, parang awa niyo, itama niyo po kung may mali," Acosta said.
She also pointed out that it would not look appropriate when President Aquino goes to the PMA commencement exercises amid the controversy hounding Cudia's dismissal.
"Ang plano ko, after ng Camp Aguinaldo, pupunta ako sa Palasyo para makipagusap sa mga taong kinauukulan para iayos ito. Kasi pupunta ang mahal na Pangulo doon (PMA), may isang isyung nakalutang," Acosta said.