I HAVE a friend who has been in public service for more than half of his life. In fact, he is up to retire in two or three years. Despite all the difficulties he had gone through, different places in his tour of duty, a dozen or so regional directors he served, the guy is still happy than ever, and even more passionate of what's he's doing.
He never earned enemies in his job nor been slapped with cases related to his official function. He's so satisfied imparting his talents, time and skills to his colleagues, and transforming the lives of people his agency serves. He's also been steadfast and in the forefront of fighting for the rights and welfare of his government colleagues.
In all these years, he never had any regret or whatever except one thing -- promotion to higher post before he retires.
Promotion seems to have eluded him all along despite his many good tries to get it. He wonders why almost all his contemporaries, even those who joined the service only in recent years, have gotten promotions to the posts of division chiefs, assistant regional directors, and a few as regional directors in other regions while he remained glued to a lower position, the rank assistant division chief.
From several sources, I have affirmed that this guy has all the qualifications even up to regional directorship. He has seniority, unquestioned integrity in public service, best performer with excellent
deliverables in many fields, most spread tour of duties, and a leader innovator in his assigned tasks.
Recently, he was so emotional informing me that he applied again for promotions for announced vacant posts, only to be told that said vacancies have already approved applicants. He questioned that how come the posts are already occupied when there is yet a schedule of interviews for applicants.
From that point of facts, I told him to try to investigate, with the help of his colleagues, the possibility that his agency is also inflicted by bureaucratic diseases including promotions for sale, reportedly happening in other government agencies as revealed in several investigative studies and news reports.
I know of one agency where regional director one after the other makes money out of promotion and hiring. And they have a number of modus to make them appear normal and legal. One example is they borrow a big sum of money from the target person interested for promotion, and later make it as a trade-off money for promotion. Some don't ask for money, but make sure through various persuasive talks the target person would eventually give "voluntarily".
At any rate, the case of my friend is a microcosm of a bigger problem that must be addressed decisively in various levels by people who have the political power and will to enforce laws and right values. And no less, by the stronger participation of organized citizens in governance.
Let's take note that graft and corruption takes many forms and been practiced more deliberately by persons in power, and less by lowly, ordinary employees. And it is taking its increasing toll on the vulnerable sectors of society and the lowly employees of the state sector.
In the meantime, I encouraged everyone to monitor these crooks, build up cases, and enforce the full force of the law against them. DILG has shown the ways to trap them.
Just do it!