Ping to have ‘one standard’ in government

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — There will be “one standard” in the government under the Lacson administration, as observing a double standard will mess everything up, according to Partido Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson said observing double standards is the reason why governments fail, as he commended the systematic health protocols being implemented by the local government here under Bagauio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

“One reason governance gets messed up is when you impose double standards – like you have a certain standard when it comes to your friends or the people you know and another for strangers. You will never succeed if you keaep it that way,” he added.

Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III submitted themselves to regular health and safety protocols when they arrived here last Thursday evening for a two-day visit.

At a press briefing with Manila-based reporters covering their campaign, Lacson and Sotto said they had no problem going through checkpoints and triage procedures implemented by the local government to screen its guests as a matter of policy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While both senators have close professional ties with Magalong, Lacson said he saw no need to bother his former subordinate about giving them special treatment, owing to their friendship, because he knows he is also a disciple of his “no double standard” rule.

Instead of complaining about the strict guest screening protocols of Baguio City, Lacson commended Magalong for faithfully subscribing to the “leadership by example” doctrine, which they both learned from their alma mater, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

“Last night when we arrived, a bit late in the evening, I went through the process of triage there at the BCC (Baguio Convention Center). There, we have our record of that,” Lacson said.

The presidential aspirant added that he did not ask for any special treatment and did not throw his weight around even as a close friend of the Baguio City mayor.

“In my case, I know I could have appealed to him ‘Benjie, forgive me, but perhaps you can allow us to go straight.’ I felt embarrassed because I know he also has only one standard here. And even if I could muster up the courage to do that, I knew what he was going to say to me: ‘Sir, I’m sorry, but we have a health protocol to follow. You need to undergo (those procedures),” Lacson said.

The senator shared that observing and complying with the rules were among the virtues he and Magalong learned from the PMA.

“We have learned this in our (leadership)-in-service training at PMA – leadership by example. It is second to none, actually. There is no substitute for it. I always repeat that a leader who wants to succeed must lead by example,” Lacson stressed.

Magalong said both Lacson and Sotto are regular guests in Baguio City, and they have always complied with their mandatory health and safety protocols for all visitors.
The city is currently under Alert Level 2 or moderate risk for COVID-19.

Lacson and Sotto are in Baguio to engage stakeholders from the micro, small and medium enterprises sector in a dialogue organized by the Rotary Club of Baguio City at the Newtown Plaza Hotel, where they also presented their platforms of anti-corruption and good governance and explained how beneficial they can be for the country moving forward.