"Some officials’ refusal to do this has not only eroded the moral fiber of our nation but has also alienated citizens from their government and subordinates from their officials."
"Some officials’ refusal to do this has not only eroded the moral fiber of our nation but has also alienated citizens from their government and subordinates from their officials."Crisis brings about the best and worst traits in the character of people. Some take advantage of the situation; some are able to demonstrate their good and noble character.
Those who preside over agencies of government or private institutions whose negligence or ineffectiveness caused a tragedy either pass the buck to subordinates or to others. They would not take responsibility. It is so uncommon in our country for an official to own up to his negligence, or those of the people under his leadership.
Resignation is a very rare occurrence. “Morir antes de dimitir” or death before resignation, is a long-forgotten derisive remark for the “kapit-tuko” in officialdom which our forefathers in a more urbane era would say. To this day, without the Hispanic epithet, the “kapit tuko” tradition holds.
Let me narrate an incident that happened in Taipei, in its downtown Zhongshan district some two weeks back. A major fire struck a popular KTV bar in the area which left five dead and dozens injured. (Taipei is not on lockdown or enhanced quarantine. Life goes on as normal as possible, with everyone taking precautions on physical distancing, wearing face masks, and the like, but schools and business establishments remain open. And this is a KTV chain which caters to families and groups; there are no GROs, as we call them in our country).
It took hours before the fire was extinguished, and as the KTV bar was occupying the middle floors of a multi-storey building, many of the victims succumbed to heavy smoke.
Almost immediately, in fact even before the fire had been declared fully put off by the fire department, officials of the company which owned the KTV chain which has branches in almost all major cities of Taiwan, along with the chief of the fire department, took responsibility for the disaster.
Even as there was yet no conclusive finding as to the real cause of the fire, the Taipei City fire chief tendered his resignation, taking responsibility for the incident. The fire department, just like in the Philippines, should issue a certification before the occupancy of buildings are allowed by the local government. (And no, their personnel do not sell fire extinguishers).
The mayor of Taipei City, physician Ko Wen-je, later rejected the resignation after a swift but thorough investigation which clearly established the incidents that led to the fire.
The company on the other hand, immediately announced an indemnification package for all the victims: a lump sum amount of NT$2 million (about P 3.4 million) for the families of the dead victims, and NT$ 100,000 for each of the injured.
Meanwhile, it closed all of its 17 karaoke outlets to have these properly re-inspected by fire and city inspectors. Top officials of the company held a press conference the following day to announce their indemnification plan, bowing their heads in sincere apology and observing a moment of silence to express their deep sorrow and sympathy to the families of the tragedy’s victims.
Thereafter, the city mayor himself went on national television to express his apologies over the tragic incident, and vowed to strengthen the inspection system over all buildings and establishments in the capital city.
Recall what I wrote several columns ago about the international airport official who was asked by his superior to fetch his son who was returning from a visit to the Philippines in the tube, to do away with stringent health restrictions, an everyday occurrence in our airport where VIP’s are exempted from most every regulation, because of their “sundo” and “hatid.”
The airport official was dismissed; the subordinate demoted; and even the head of the Tourism Bureau (an assistant secretary rank equivalence in the Philippines because there is no tourism ministry, the sector being under the Ministry of Transportation) was demoted.
Three years back, the Minister of Economic Affairs, under whose authority the electric power companies operate, resigned because of a ten-minute black-out in major capitals due to some tripping of distribution lines, and two years before, the railroad manager resigned because of a train derailment in eastern Taiwan.
During the past few months we have collectively cheered the heroism of our front liners but gnashed our teeth in resentment at the uselessness of their superiors in providing them with the needed protective equipment. We have cursed at those who have taken advantage of the crisis to benefit themselves, and jeered at the “epals” who shamelessly parade themselves as some kind of philanthropists even as the goods they distribute were funded by government.
Pero, may nangyari ba?
It is this sense of responsibility that is somehow lost in our government and society, wherein not owning up for one’s mistake and worse, passing the buck upon others, has been quite the norm.
This has not only eroded the moral fiber of our nation but has also alienated citizens from their government and subordinates from their officials, and even the faithful toward their church.
It is also one of the reasons why presumption of regularity is no longer observed in public and even private transactions, resulting in so many documentary requirements being imposed even upon the simplest undertakings and where even well-established systems are met with doubt and cynical eyes.
And the law, instead of being refuge for the downtrodden and less privileged in life, is seen as sheltering the interests of those who run and hide from the responsibilities they wish to escape from.
Perhaps this is one piece of the puzzle missing in our national quest for economic prosperity, let alone international respect — a citizenry that trusts its government because its officials respect themselves and take responsibility for their own errors of omission or commission.
**
I somehow pitied the career deputy commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission, Edgardo Cabarrios, as he twisted and turned last Tuesday while being interviewed to explain why the NTC decided to issue a Cease and Desist order against the operations of the media mammoth, ABS-CBN, despite the sworn avowals of its chairman before a Senate Committee two months ago.
Without fact-checking, I immediately presumed Mr. Cabarrios is not a lawyer, even if he has given the impression even in past interviews where he was the chosen spokesperson of the NTC, that he was both knowledgeable and sincere as a public servant.
But where, oh where, is his Chairman, Atty. Gamaliel Cordoba, who has been the head of the powerful commission since 2009 when he was appointed by President Macapagal Arroyo? For some mysterious reason, the next president, Benigno Aquino III, despite his dislike for all Arroyo appointees, retained Atty. Cordoba. And so did President Duterte.
Fine. Maybe he has sterling academic and “other” credentials, whatever these may be.
But while Solicitor General Jose Calida has publicly declared his stand on the controversial renewal of the mega-media franchise, and has no fear in publicly declaring his legal position, the head of the NTC is like an ostrich who buries head on the sand, and maintains Sphinx-like silence, deputizing the poor Mr. Cabarrios to explain what is for the moment difficult to explain.
This is what “taking responsibility” is all about. Others call it “manning up,” except that in our country and elsewhere in the world, it is the women who are demonstrating more balls and better leadership.
This is not the first time we have noticed that Atty. Cordoba is nowhere in the limelight when explaining the acts or lack of action of the agency he heads with the full weight of three successive presidential imprimaturs.
Donde esta usted, Liel? Hiding in the palatial airplane hangar of the man who would order tremors to stop, and hush volcanic eruptions?
Por Dios o por Apollo, take responsibility!