Cudia passes UP Law entrance exam

MANILA, Philippines – Dismissed Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia passed the qualifying exams for the prestigious University of the Philippines College of Law, the result of the UP Law Aptitude Exam (LAE) shows.

He took the qualifying exams in February 2015 while waiting for the Supreme Court ruling on his petition to compel the military academy to give him a diploma.

Later that month, the High Court denied his petition, however. His motion to appeal the ruling is pending the court. (READ: Cadet Cudia finally speaks: ‘I will fight to the end’)

A college degree is required to be admitted to the UP law program, however, and there is no deferment policy.

“Those admitted to the college but do not enroll or enroll in the first semester but drop all course will ahve to re-take the LAE,” according to the admission requirements.

Cudia, who was supposed to graduate salutatorian of the PMA Class 2014, was dismissed at the academy for supposedly lying about the reason he was two minutes late for a class. The school received widespread flak online over what was perceived to be a petty reason to dismiss a graduating cadet.

The school stood its ground, saying that lying is a gross violation of the PMA Honor Code.(READ: 2 minutes late for class, PMA cadet dismissed?)

Aside from the Public Attorney’s Office, the Commission on Human Rights called for the reversal of the PMA ruling. The SC ruling said, however, that the PMA Honor Code should be respected. (READ:PMA violated Cudia’s rights – CHR)

Cudia’s battle is unprecedented. It gave the public a rare view of cadet activities and proceedings of the highly secretive honor committee, a group of students who can decide to dismiss fellow cadets over violations of their honor code. – Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com