Honorable exit

Between DND Secretary Avelino Cruz and the three unnamed Cabinet members who want him out, Cruz is definitely the better man. He should have been the one retained in the Cabinet rather than the three "masketeers" who prefer to remain treacherously behind the shadows wearing masks. Of course there are many undisclosed factors and un-publishable reasons why the President preferred the triumvirate. It is always her call and prerogative to determine whom to retain in her Cabinet. But she should likewise expect the adverse public’s reaction that this is another big blow against good governance which has been bearing a lot of pummeling under her administration. From the looks of it, bad politics once more prevailed over excellent public service. The President can not easily erase the public impression that she prefers politicians over good public servants.

Apart from the many reforms that Cruz has introduced in the military and his unblemished record in public service as Presidential Legal Counsel and DND Secretary, Cruz would have been more preferable than the three cabinet intriguers precisely because of his principled stand in this latest controversy over the recent debacle in the peoples’ initiative to change the Constitution. Seldom do we find in the government service nowadays people who are not afraid to lose their jobs for the sake of their principles. He could have just kept his mouth shut and remain ensconced in one of the most powerful cabinet positions. But he dared to express his conviction on the illegality of the moves being undertaken and supported by some of his colleagues knowing fully well that his job is on the line. Unlike the masquerading trio he was not deterred by the prospect of being axed if he made his stand public. The least that the intriguers could have done was to likewise come out in the open and tell the people who they are and why they want Cruz out. Denials merely betray the identity and character of one of them. Come to think of it, Cruz as a lawyer fits much better into the position presently occupied by this cabinet member.

Even speaking of loyalty to the President, Cruz can be considered more loyal than the people who want him out. The better gauge of loyalty is not in agreeing all the time to the higher up but in always telling the truth even if it hurts; or in voicing out one’s well studied opinion even if it may not be to the liking of the boss. Cruz helped the President more by expressing a contrary view. At least he gave the President some option to weigh the pros and cons, to determine what is right or wrong, legal or illegal. This is real essence of loyalty. The trio who resented the stand of Cruz against the constitutionally infirm peoples’ initiative simply because it runs counter to Malacanang’s agenda and might displease the President are not really being loyal to her. Telling the boss she is always right is not loyalty but subservience. By being subservient and groveling so as not to incur the ire of the boss and lose their jobs, they are in effect only being loyal to themselves.

In the Philippines, government officials indeed rarely resign. They hold on to their jobs even under scandalous circumstances. Despite anomalies and irregularities swirling around them enough to drive other officials in other countries to commit hara kiri, they stick to their position like leeches and simply shrug off those scandals with bare denials and angry challenges to "prove it". The rare instances of resignations on the other hand are as revocable as rubber bands that snap back faster than a yoyo. It is thus quite refreshing to hear a resignation as final, unconditional and irrevocable as that offered by Cruz. It sets an example for other government officials to regard the public office as a public trust – not as a much coveted possession that could not be easily given up.

Our country does not have a dearth of good, honest, capable and dedicated people ready to serve the government. But they shy away from public service for fear of being engulfed in dirty politics and frustrating political practices that hinder them from reaching their goals for the common good. The Cruz experience once more proves this unfortunate situation in our government.

E-mail at: [email protected] or [email protected]