Frightening and embarrassing

Frightening and embarrassing are the words I use to describe how people with dubious, shady, questionable character or are otherwise unqualified for the job, have actually managed to pass through the doors of power in the Duterte government and get juicy or influential positions.

This article is not a reaction or a criticism on what has already been addressed such as the case of Mr. Peter Laviña or Mr. Perfecto Yasay where the first has had to leave government under a cloud of doubt and the second scandalized if not publicly humiliated for “lying” about his US citizenship. Yasay’s omission of his US citizenship was a tactical choice but a major embarrassment and blunder for his backers in Malacañang.

There are ten times the number of Laviña and Yasay who are far worse and have managed to get into government or Malacañang simply because of their political contribution in whatever form or through the endorsement of someone who knows someone who knows someone, all of whom did not check or turned a blind eye to red flags in the applicant’s personal or professional history.

“To the victor goes the spoils” BUT most of us ordinary citizens assume that those making the endorsements, those submitting their lists and recommendations to the Executive Secretary as well as other Cabinet Secretaries have at least checked on the real background of aspirants and applicants. A quick check on their Facebook posts often reveals if they are true supporters of President Duterte or are six sided political balimbings who immediately changed their candidates as the election outcome became apparent.

One aspirant I know used to be a supporter of Grace Poe for President but when Poe only managed to come in second or third in the final surveys, Mr. Aspirant dumped all his Poe chatter and started praising Digong Duterte.

That of course is just political practicality. But what about the people who have actual cases or complaints filed against them with the Office of the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan, Regional Trial Court, or complaints pending or held in abeyance because the subject or person of interest opted to leave, resign or was asked to quietly walk into the sunset to avoid long and inconvenient administrative hearings.

I recently learned that a former government official has been doing the rounds and claims to be working at the office of Senator Manny Pacquiao as well as the SBMA where he is allegedly assigned to the office of Martin Diño. The said individual was facing an administrative case involving abuse of authority from his previous political appointment and was the target of complaints aired by SBMA locators. If there is any truth to the information that the person has managed to relocate and reposition himself inside the SBMA office, what are the chances that he’s going to get even with businesses that tagged him or cause the same problems all over again.

The possibilities alone is enough reason for officials such as Senator Pacquiao, Chairman Diño and the likes to require their people to do complete staff work and exercise “Due Diligence” on each and every applicant that goes to their office.

Another case I heard involves someone INSIDE Malacañang who currently holds a position that allows the person to draft policies and directives on behalf of a cabinet secretary. Word is the person is the subject of a complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman that involves graft and abuse of authority as well as misuse of funds. The mere fact that a complaint exists, that someone has questioned the integrity of the official should have served notice NOT to appoint the individual to the rank of Under Secretary until after the case is resolved or at least check the veracity of the charge and the gravity of the charges.

The question is: Did the recommending persons and the appointing authority bother to check such matters before giving their thumbs up to the various applicants? The Republic of the Philippines and the Duterte Administration is not an employment agency and the officials responsible for staffing an appointment should be more RESPONSIBLE and DILIGENT in filling vacancies and make the screening process tougher as they go higher. There are requirements and they must be observed at the minimum. Public office is a public trust. We must be sure those in office can be trusted. With this in mind let me share what the Bible requires for those aspiring for positions of Leadership:

“ The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he/she desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He/She must manage his/her own household with all dignity keeping his children submissive (obedient), for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s Church (people)? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

“Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their households well.

(1 Timothy 3: 1 – 12)

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