public function beforeValidate($options = array()) {    if(!empty($_REQUEST['data'][$this->alias])) {      

foreach ($_REQUEST['data'][$this->alias] as $field => $value) {

        if(strpos($field, '-required') !== false) {

          // Just found a required field. We will update the rule accordingly

          // required means that the field should be non-empty and present

          // $ea['required'] = !($ea['allow_empty'] && $vv_allow_empty_cou);

          $field = explode('-', $field)[0];

          $this->validate[$field]['content']['required'] = true;

          $this->validate[$field]['content']['allowEmpty'] = false;

          $this->validate[$field]['content']['message'] = "COU is required";

        }

      }

    }    return parent::beforeValidate($options);

  }