THE Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet who stole grapes was given due process.
PMA spokesperson Major Cheryl Tindog said the erring cadet was tried just and fair based on the academy's Honor Code.
Tindog added that the PMA continues to uphold the Honor Code, which is the point of reference to guide cadets in all their endeavors without regard for personal gain, expediency, or popular sentiment.
The PMA Honor Code is a set of rules that the cadet binds themselves. It states: "We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do so."
"This recent case of a cadet, just like all honor cases in PMA, has gone through due process. The Honor Committee, and the Board of Senior Officers of the Academy had reviewed, resolved and recommended what they deemed are the right actions to be taken, before the Superintendent has approved the issuance of order to said cadet," added Tindog.
In a statement, PMA superintendent and Vice Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi said it was the Secretary of National Defense (SND) who called his attention about the case of the cadet since last year.
"Contrary to the malicious claims of other parties, I do not know any aunt or any other high government official from DND who interceded in behalf of said cadet. But the SND has every right to call my attention about the case. SND's instructions were for PMA authorities to investigate properly the case. He did not influence me on the outcome of the case nor influence my decision. It was my sole decision alone after due process had been undertaken," Cusi added.
Tindog added that considering that the cadets are still under training (from 4th Class to 1st Class), the Honor Code and System is formative and developmental, rather than punitive and preventive of growth and edification/improvement.
"That is why the strictness in terms of the degree of application and sanction is graduated, i.e., less strict with the new cadets/plebes who are under extreme physical, biological, mental, emotional, psychological stress, but stricter as the class of the cadets becomes more senior. An essential element in any honor case should be the presence or absence of malice aforethought, just like in murder and other criminal offenses," he said.
PMA in 2007 revised the Honor System that recommends remediation, determination of guilt by a majority rather than a unanimous vote.
Under the revised Honor System, guilty cadets will be separated from the academy by administrative dismissal rather than forced resignation, and the superintendent, rather than the Honor Committee as the final authority over the disposition of honor cases.