AFP chief lauds outgoing PMA superintendent

ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gilbert Gapay applauded on Monday, November 16, outgoing Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Superintendent Vice Admiral Ferdinand Cusi for keeping the academy safe from Covid-19 and introducing innovations inside the institution.

Cusi led the academy amid the controversial death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio in 2019 and has introduced reforms inside the academy since the cadet's death.

Gapay salutes Cusi for initiating and working closely with the Department of National Defense (DND) study group in conducting various researches and benchmarking inspection on the current situation of PMA which led to the identification of reform measures to further enhance its systems, quality education and training for cadets.

The AFP chief took his time to cite all the accomplishments of Cusi that include institutionalization of reform measures in the academy towards enhanced character development, development of cadets most especially cadets, to report illegal, immoral and unauthorized acts or orders.

"Another is upgrading of courses, educating and training tactical officers and tactical non-commissioned officers as well as measures to effectively recreate culture of no maltreatment, no shabity, high regard to honor code. Another one is the formulation of strategic communication engaging all relevant stakeholders of PMA for the purpose of culture change and management," said Gapay.

It was March this year when the DND directed a study group to visit PMA and study the current situation. As a result, the group came up with a memorandum that comprised several innovations and changes to be implemented by PMA.

Under the memorandum, the academy was directed to implement segregation by class the soonest possible time before the arrival of class 2024; only officers of the headquarters tactics group and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are handling the training of the new cadets; educate, doctorate and capacitate the new cadets to refuse, to report illegal, immoral and authorized orders and make necessary changes to regulation and classification of acts or orders, device monitoring compliance and measures and make necessary transitory adjustments; design courses to educate tactical officers and tactical NCOs and institutionalize measures to effectively recreate a culture of no maltreatment no shabity, high regard of honor code.

Gapay added PMA has already started implementing these measures to ensure that the education and training in PMA particularly the character development of the cadets exude only the highest quality.

"Another notable perhaps most important to initiate is the comprehensive review and revision of the honor code and the honor system. Redefining the honor code to the cadets not as a mere of laws, regulations and sanctions but as a moral compass towards character development with the end goal of developing principled and competent officers of the AFP. Truly Cusi had shown professional competence sterling leadership in procreating new generation of cadets," added Gapay.

The AFP chief of staff stated Cusi directed the strategic planning of the academy thru refinement in the adjustment of PMA transformation roadmap and facilitated the strengthening of education, training and research capabilities of PMA.

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