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(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)
BAGUIO CITY-Lawyers of eight graduating cadets of the Philippine Military Academy, who won a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the academy for "violating their civil rights," dropped their clients last week.
Lawyer Abelardo Estrada, the cadets' chief counsel, told the Inquirer on Thursday that his clients negotiated a "face-saving" deal with PMA without his knowledge.
The talks occurred as soon as regional trial court Judge Clarence Villanueva froze on Dec. 28 two independent PMA investigations that were looking into a cheating episode inside the century-old institution, he claimed.
Navy Lt. Bonifacio Agas, PMA spokesperson, said the eight cadets have already forwarded a notice of withdrawal to Villanueva, indicating that they were dropping their suit.
"I took on this case to raise very serious issues about civil rights inside the military, especially because it decrees whether they will graduate or not," Estrada said.
This is the first such civil rights issue raised against PMA before a civilian court, he said.