Reading of the case of Cadet Aldrin Cudia, I was both transfixed and bewildered by the decision of the Philippine Military Academy to dismiss him from the school and prevent him from graduating with his class at this year’s PMA commencement last  March 16.

The reason for the rather harsh punishment is that Cudia violated the cadet’s honor code by lying for being late by two minutes  in attending a class. The code says: “We do not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate others among us who do.”