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Cudia V PMA (Digest)
Cudia V PMA (Digest)
Cudia V PMA (Digest)
First Class Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia v. The Superintendent of the Philippine Military
Academy
GR Number 211362
Petition: Petition for Mandamus
Petitioner: First Class Cadet Aldrin Jeff P. Cudia
Respondent: The Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy, The Honor Committee of
2014 of the PMA and HC members, and the Cadet Review and Appeals Board (CRAB)
Ponente: Peralta, J.
Date: February 24, 2014
Facts:
Petitioner, Cadet First Class Cudia, was a member of the Siklab Diwa Class of 2014 of the
Philippine Military Academy. He was supposed to graduate with honors as the class salutatorian,
receive the Philippine Navy Saber as the top Navy Cadet graduate and be commissioned as an
ensign of the Navy.
Petitioner was issued a Delinquency Report (DR) because he was late for two minutes in his
ENG 412 class, other cadets were also reported late for 5 minutes. The DRs reached the
Department of Tactical Officers and were logged and transmitted to the Company of Tactical
Officers (TCO) for explanation. Cudia incurred the penalty of 11 demerits and 13 touring hours.
Several days after, Cudia was reported to the Honor Committee (HC) per violation of the Honor
Code. Lying that is giving statements that perverts the truth in his written appeal stating that his
4th period class ended at 3:00 that made him late for the succeeding class.
Cudia submitted his letter of explanation on the honor report. The HC constituted a team to
conduct the preliminary investigation on the violation, it recommended the case be formalized.
Cudia pleaded not guilty. The result was 8-1 guilty verdict and upon the order of the Chairman,
the HC reconvened in the chambers, after, the Presiding Officer announced a 9-0 guilty verdict.
The HC denied Cudias appeal. The Headquarters Tactics Group (HTG) conducted a formal
review and checking of findings. Special orders were issued placing Cudia on indefinite leave of
absence and pending approval of separation from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Cudia
submitted a letter to the Office of the Commandant of Cadets requesting his re-instatement. The
matter was referred to Cadet Review and Appeals Board (CRAB) and it upheld the decision.
Cudia wrote a letter to President Aquino but the President sustained the findings of the CRAB.
CHR-CAR issued a resolution finding probable cause for Human Rights Violations.
Issue:
1. Whether or not the PMA committed grave abuse of discretion in dismissing Cudia in utter
disregard of his right to due process and in holding that he violated the Honor Code
through lying.
2. Whether or not the court can interfere with military affairs