MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte reminded cadets and alumni of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to police their own ranks and avoid letting the name of the institution get tarnished.
In a speech during the membership meeting of PMA Alumni, Duterte said the image of the institution is only as good as the image that each cadet and alumni projects to the public.
“It takes one fly to spoil a feast. It takes one scandal to ruin an avowed moral and ethical standard,” Duterte said. “One scalawag among you can destroy or dent that image and reputation of every PMAer, your alma mater and your association included.”
“Make use of your moral ascendancy, police your own ranks. You owe it to the academy that nourished you,” the Chief Executive added.
Duterte also warned PMAers against the dangers of too much pride as he noted that many PMA alumni have become politicians, lawmakers, and heads of government agencies.
“That pride, if uncontrolled, can easily degenerate into arrogance and from there, the path of abuse opens. After that, only God knows,” he said. “That is what you should guard against, that is what you should not allow to happen.”
The PMA has been embroiled in controversy last year following the death of cadet Darwin Dormitorio in September last year due to the alleged hazing by his upperclassmen.
Just a week after Dormitorio’s death, several other cadets were hospitalized due to suspected maltreatment within the academy./PN
