MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Thursday denied Cadet 1st Class Jeff Aldrin Cudia's petition to stop his dismissal from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
In rejecting the urgent motion for status quo ante order, the high court's Third Division ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PMA to submit their explanation on Cudia's petition filed last March 10.
Cudia filed the petition hoping that he would still be included in the graduation rites of his batch last Sunday. He was supposed to graduate as a salutatorian.
Read: Cudia leaves PMA compound
"It is respectfully prayed of the Honorable Court to ... include 1st Class Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia in the list of graduating class of Siklab Diwa 2014 if all the material requirements for his baccalaureate degree have been completed in time for 16 March 2014 commencement exercises," the petition said.
Cudia also asked the high court to allow him to be commissioned as an ensign of the Philippine Navy and order the PMA Honor Committee's "guilty" verdict null and void.
The young military hopeful was dismissed for allegedly lying on why he came two minutes late for a class. Lying is a violation of the school's esteemed sacred Honor Code.
Cudia said in the petition that his dismissal was an "exercise of grave abuse of discretion."
The AFP has created a special body that would investigate Cudia's case.
AFP Public Affairs Chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said that members of the special body already proceeded to the PMA in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City to start the investigation.
Read: AFP creates probe body for Cudia's case