Ping, Bro. Eddie sweat out ‘job interview’

Two of the country’s presidential aspirants got their first taste of a job interview before a three-man panel of human resource experts pooled by the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Jesus is Lord (JIL) lead evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva were grilled for two hours by HR executives last March 16 and 18, respectively.

Lacson said he felt he "talked too much" in the interview that stretched for two hours, while Villanueva said he felt like being in a "lion’s den" while he was being roasted by the panel.

Wearing a formal black suit with a matching red tie, Lacson discussed his leadership experience in the PNP and in the various positions he held in the field of law enforcement.

On the other hand, Villanueva, who came in a black jacket over a yellow shirt, reportedly showed his broad knowledge about economic issues during the interview.

The STAR source said Lacson showed confidence and extraordinary intelligence in answering questions posed by Ric Abadesco, consultant of Exxon Mobil Corp.; Imee Centeno, vice president of United Laboratories; and Grace Zata, managing director of Corporate Executive Search.

The senator reportedly explained crucial decisions he made as PNP chief and difficult situations he handled in his previous positions. He also clarified accusations hurled against him, including his alleged involvement in the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case.

Lacson said he considers his initial silence on the controversial case as his biggest mistake.

"I don’t want to be distracted and don’t get easily distracted (by criticisms) because I want to be always focused (on whatever I am doing). I don’t care about what other people would say. As long as I know that I am on the right track, I would rather focus on doing it," Lacson was quoted as saying.

He also disclosed that the biggest decision he had to make was the PNP’s defection from the Estrada administration to the EDSA II forces in January 2001.

Lacson confessed that his decision to withdraw support from then President Joseph Estrada was a result of a consensus among PNP officials.

Meanwhile, Villanueva boasted of his capability to manage JIL’s 33 chapters worldwide, each of which consists of thousands of members.

A student activist twice jailed during the Marcos administration, Villanueva claimed he has been a living witness to the many social injustices the Filipino people suffered over the years.

According to The STAR source, Villanueva also presented some of his plans if ever elected to office, including introducing considerably radical ideas aimed at bringing about change in the bureaucracy.

"Our country needs a genuine leadership. The vicious cycle of poverty and corruption in the country compelled me to run for president," Villanueva was quoted as telling the panel of interviewers.

"Traditional politicians are no longer needed (by the Filipinos). What we need now is righteous governance, which enjoys high moral diplomacy," he added.

Villanueva also reportedly stressed that: "A leader should be incorruptible, righteous, and with passion for political will."

Prior to the interviews of Lacson and Villanueva, disqualified presidential candidate Eddie Gil also faced the panel of HR experts last March 15, the day before the Comelec handed down its ruling on his candidacy.

According to Zata, who is also the chair of PMAP’s Presidential Profiling Committee, the presidential aspirants were made aware that they have to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities, collectively known as competencies, by giving specific examples from their own experiences.

"As interviewer, we are not interested to know that the job applicant can do something. We are interested to know that the job applicant has done it. The basic premise of this interview is that past performance is a good predictor of future performance," Zata noted.

"In a regular job interview, an applicant must tell the interviewer what he or she would do in a situation. But in a competency interview, an applicant must describe how he or she handled a situation in the past. This type of interview gives an applicant the opportunity to demonstrate to prospective employers why he or she is perfect for the job," she added.

Former education secretary Raul Roco is scheduled to sit down with the PMAP interviewers on March 23.

The PMAP is still waiting word from President Arroyo and movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. whether they are willing to take the PMAP-sponsored job interview.