Maulion: Public Trust

PUBLIC office is public trust. This is very clear in Civil Service Rules reason it's printed in their communication. That applies to all people in the government service elected or not. And unless you're above the law you have to abide by it. People in the position should not take it lightly as damage incurred might be that irreparable causing your credibility, integrity and popularity beyond repair in the end. Good for the defenders, that they could easily concoct excuses to the rescue of their boss' lapses. But no way they could forever live and sustained their rhetoric because whether they like it or not they would still go back to the earth and suffer its consequences.

That happens to Erap forcing him to leave Malaca? Had he taken the witness stand at the height of his Juetingate controversy, the issue probably might have not reached that far. Similarly, Pres. Arroyo's issuance of gag order among her cabinet secretaries and high ranking officials not to cooperate with Senators in squeezing for relevant leads simply aggravated and muddled all the more, instead of clarifying the issues that otherwise would have helped clear the doubts and suspicion of the general public.

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Then there's lately Manny Villar's deliberate absence in C-5 insertion hearing in Senate orchestrated by the opposition, turning Senate into a boring august body and polarizing Enrile's camp from Villar's group. It might be a valid move for Villar but look on how his popularity is significantly affected. In fact, insiders are already anticipating what miracle would that be if the next survey would not register a backlash on his consistent performance behind the still very popular Noynoy Aquino.

Incidentally, who could forget the unprecedented one-time appearance of Vice-Mayor Emano as presiding officer of the City Council. That's one indeed for the books. Unfortunately for his legion of apologists, the more they defend his absences, the easier they explain the issue away. That has telling effect to the ordinary tax-paying Juan. So far, the feedback from this paper's "Unsay Say Mo" section to his chronic absences are unanimous that they could not stomach the height of the vice mayor*s arrogance, let alone swallow their saliva for having been party in electing such man in office. If you wish, read over the readers* feedbacks in this paper they are self-explanatory (and there were foul words that were not included).

Identity crisis: This is the worst disease ever that any leader can suffer. With that you forget who you are and the role you are playing as elected official. What a disservice extended to the people who voted for you last election.

It is just hoped that as we will select those who will lead us anew this May election, we would be guided by conscience in choosing officers guided by greater sense of understanding of their work. (rfmaulion@yahoo.com)