TO hold public office is one of the most sacred privileges a citizen can ever have because along with it comes the opportunity to affect change for the greater good.
This is especially true for those running or are appointed for local or national posts because such positions of power, especially that of the Office of the President, are accorded and entrusted with public trust.
After all, citizens pay taxes to fund the government and its operations, programs and services in faith and in trust that our public servants are working for our interest. We, the People, are their “boss.” These public officials work for us, and not the other way around.
Working for the government does not give an employee a hefty salary so it is not the job one would want if he/she aspires to be rich. However, we have heard how some people had been willing to kill other people just to hold a position in government — from the top post to the “baranggay tanod.”
We also wonder how with a meager salary, some government officials and employees have been able to acquire wealth and live extravagant lifestyles. We have seen families holding public office together in the legislative and executive branches of government in both local and national offices, clinging to these positions in a merry-go-round dance, generations after generations.
“Corruption is a cancer within the body of societies—a disease that eats at public trust and the ability of governments to deliver for their citizens. The deleterious effects of corruption impact nearly all aspects of society. It exacerbates social, political, and economic inequality and polarization; impedes the ability of states to respond to public health crises or to deliver quality education; degrades the business environment and economic opportunity; drives conflict; and undermines faith in government. Those that abuse positions of power for private gain steal not just material wealth, but human dignity and welfare,” the White House official page states.
This truth is very palpable in the Philippines. Elections after elections we hear campaign promises about fighting against and abolishing corruption, but the promises remain to be empty rhetoric of many sweet-talking scheming politicians who fear and therefore tactically workaround and game the system to avoid two important requirements of these sacred positions of public trust in government: transparency and accountability.
Transparency means to be open and proactive in disclosing everything that is material and important to how the public official will conduct himself and make decisions while in office, and this starts the moment he/she has signified and formalized intent to run for office or accept an appointment to serve in government.
This is the sacred resume a candidate presents to the people on his qualifications and personal information why we, the people, should entrust with him the position of power to work for our greater good.
The public official is expected to be proactive in his/her disclosure about his personal, social, economic ties; his/her assets, liabilities and net worth; about his/her clean record involving crimes and moral and ethical turpitude; about principles, visions, and platform to make our lives better, and our democracy stronger.
Campaigns are free to present their candidates in the best possible light to convince the electorate they are best suited for the position. That is their public relations function. But all these this need to be checked, examined, questioned, and explained as required by the principle of transparency.
Political appointees are vetted, their past dug up, and they are subject to hearings which are like “cross examinations” about their fitness to be in office before they are confirmed pursuant to the rule of law.
For elected officials, part of the process by which the citizenry can make a more informed decision in hiring or rejecting a candidate for office is by thorough research, investigation and the job interview, which take the form of debates, interviews, panel discussions, town hall meetings, etc., done by the fourth estate — the free, independent press in a democracy.
A candidate applying for the job, therefore, should be ready, willing and able to go through this rigorous process of job application because no one is entitled to the job. He/she could not cherry-pick who should conduct the interview and face only those who accept his claims as gospel truth. That would be PR.
A true, honest, trustworthy candidate should be ready, willing and able to face the press who are like hungry hyenas ready to devour him/her until all his skeletons are revealed with hard, mean, incisive questions. That is the role of the press in a democracy because this will serve the public better in their sacred decision-making process of choosing the right and deserving public servant.
This is also a pre-cursor to how a candidate, when elected in office, will be transparent in his/her actions as an elected public servant. Government information, government records, transactions, dealings should be made available to the public, whether proactively and/or when asked.
Former President Barack Obama wrote a Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and their Agencies” and part of it read: “We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government. Government should be transparent. Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing. Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset.”
When do we demand transparency, which promotes accountability from our own public officials in the Philippines? This is not “paninira” or putting the government down. In fact, it is our sacred obligation to keep our government officials transparent and accountable in all their actions because that will push them to serve us better and strengthen our democracy.
Systemic corruption has been perpetuated in government not just by those in power, but by the voters who, knowingly or unknowingly, have been condoning, approving, and even nurturing this very chronic social ill that has been keeping the Philippines a “third world” country. This coming election, don’t turn a blind eye to the red flags. Demand transparency and accountability from all candidates, especially from those running to be president of the Philippines.
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at [email protected], or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos.
