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It is dismaying to note Romulo Neri’s claim to qualification as
head of the Social Security System by citing his academic
credentials, period. Apparently, Mr. Neri’s view of public service
is limited to technical aspects of whatever position is under
discussion. But public service is much more than technical
credentials. There has to be the overall raison d’etre for public
service which explains or rationalizes why one is a public servant.
And it goes much farther than so-called academic accomplishments.
The spirit of public service is imbued with altruism, the highest
credential that defines how a government official serves one’s
fellow citizens, works for the good of one’s country and strives
for the betterment of both. Public service is an active endeavor not
a passive occupation where one goes through the motions or the
mechanics of administering, serving or leading a government agency
simply because one has the appropriate background or expertise and
the luck to be appointed.
Public office demands more of whoever holds it.
Incidentally, in the case of Romulo Neri and the Social Security
System that he aims to manage, his overall credentials and
experience for the position have been disputed with much logic and
reason. Meanwhile, why did Mr. Neri who makes so much of academic
credentials, accept the chairmanship of the Commission on Higher
Education when it is clear by law that the post is for a holder of a
doctorate degree which he does not have? In this case, he was at the
least inconsistent, if not downright self-serving in his
rationalization. These are not promising qualities for public
service.
Public service demands a moral dimension
from whoever is performing it. The sense of right and wrong must be
clear and must be maintained as one serves. The need to sacrifice
one’s welfare for public service is a paramount principle. Mental
honesty is a must. Morality, ethics, the ability to judge what one
owes the appointing power and what one owes the people who are the
true sovereigns in a democracy are critical. And speaking of a
democratic dispensation, the weight of public opinion must be an
integral part of being in public office. It must be heeded and given
its due. Public perception is vital in a democracy, particularly in
who is appointed and how a government office is handled. There are
unmistakable signs that Mr. Neri rates very low in public opinion,
particularly in the perception that he may not be the ideal or even
average choice vis-ŕ-vis the Social Security System chairmanship.
While I am averse to making a public judgment of
Mr. Neri’s immediate past behavior as a public servant as he put
himself in the line of fire by listening, without opposing, indecent
proposals, refusing to disclose the gory details and finally,
clamming up for the sake of the high and mighty, his recent public
statements on qualifications for public service in the light of the
immediate past have to be judged and refuted for the sake of our
youth and the general public and for the record, as well as for our
self respect as citizens. It is anomalous to say that all one needs
to get on with one’s career, achieve one’s ambitions, or become
useful is to mind only and exclusively one’s grades and academic
achievements. This rationale is utterly and maliciously misleading.
It does not by any means comply with the ideals of public service
nor meet the demands of good government service. At the very least,
it is a grievous misreading of what a public servant stands for. It
ignores the higher responsibilities public service must include,
which are to see one’s actions and one’s duties through a moral
prism which every society, ours at this time most of all, needs to
build a nation, inspire citizens and give a sense of mission to
public service.
Senator Mar Roxas has rightly said that Mr. Neri
has “minimal real-life experience” to take on the Social
Security System position. From Mr. Neri’s own recent statements it
may be deduced that he also has a very minimal moral sense, as with
dismaying arrogance or distressing naiveté, he rationalizes why he
is right for the Social Security Service. Indeed, we are in the era
of perverse appointments of those willing to be perverted. But the
rest of us will and must know better than to agree and approve of
such perversity, prevalent as it may be.
miongpin@yahoo.com
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