CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- President Benigno Aquino III will decide on the fate of Cadet First Class Jeff Aldrin Cudia after he was dismissed from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for violating the Honor Code.

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec. Herminio Coloma, the appeal of Cudia already reached the Office of the President.

“The Office of the President is currently studying the appeal. The PMA Honor Code is an essential building block on the character formation of future leaders and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Coloma said.

“Its basic objective is to prepare and fortify the mindset and the value set of the prospective Armed Forces officer as these will eventually be put to a severe test in the battlefield and arenas of conflict, where the officer will be deployed upon commissioning. Truth and fairness are the primary guideposts in deciding this appeal,” Coloma added.

PMA superintendent Maj. Gen. Oscar Lopez re-affirmed the recommendation of former PMA superintendent retired Vice-Admiral Edgardo Abogado that Cudia be dismissed from the academy after the Honor Committee found him lying which is a clear violation of the Honor Code.

Despite several appeals made by Cudia's family, relatives and even Arayat officials, he will still not be able to join the graduation rites on Sunday where President Aquino is expected to attend the rites.

Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Acosta said the case of Cudia will be elevated to the court to question the dismissal of the cadet from Arayat, Pampanga.