Public Service
a government or its agencies.
2. Agency involved in providing public service
for or on behalf of a government.
Public office is a public trust. The most promising yet provocative lines that we can hear from our very own politicians (former and incumbent). I don't think the sentence itself is vague enough that they confused themselves by its ambiguity.
Over a decade, Philippines has been consistent in placing itself in the rank of the most corrupt countries in the South East Asia. In spite of being a 3rd World Country whose economy is on the brink of bankruptcy, it's funny to see how our greed politicians are competing among themselves in acquiring the few remaining wealth (yes, we still have) of this poor nation. And, of course, the easiest way to practice corruption is to run and occupy a seat in the government office. This political custom has passed on from generations to generations, thanks to political dynasty. If you are that desperate, you can represent a certain group of people i.e., salesladies, flight attendants, farmers, fishermen, construction workers, security guards, etc. through a party-list without necessarily prejudicing yourself by being one of the sector whom you are representing. Brilliant. Even the youth has the chance to practice corruption via Sangguniang Kabataan. Only in the Philippines!
As a background, Philippines is composed of three equal branches: Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. Each of them is vested with powers exclusive within their jurisdiction as mandated by the 1987 Constitution – the separation of powers. This gives the three branches the free hand to monitor each other and to ensure that abuse of powers is prevented. This process is also called “check and balance”. To maintain peace and order and to protect the basic rights of the Filipinos, the Legislative Branch composed of 270 congressmen (including 14 seats for party-list) and 24 senators creates laws. Then the Executive Branch implements these laws. The Judiciary Branch prosecutes and punishes violators of these laws.
Philippines' Organizational Structure
Unlike a Monarch type of government which is being led solely by a king (like Great Britain) or emperor (like Japan), our government is rich in leaders. We have approximately 400 government leaders, from President down to SK Chairman and Kagawads. Given this number of leaders, why is it now that Philippines remains underdog when it comes to economy? Why is it that poverty is continuously growing drastically? Why the gradual occurrence of social problems such as heavy traffic, floods, juvenile delinquency, extrajudicial killings and drugs?
The culprit is CORRUPTION.
This may sound pathetic but politics is sure the easiest and fastest way to access the deeply buried treasure box. Politics carries with it not only wealth but power and fame as well.
Who could not have remembered the massive massacre in Maguindanao involving a clash of two political clans, the Ampatuans and Mangudadatu, where hundred lives were taken including civilians and journalists just because the Mangudadatu ran for the mayoral slot of which the Ampatuan had taken over for years. How about the abduction of Bobby Dacer and his driver Manuel Corbito? And little do we know, there have been killings reported involving rivalry among Baranggay officials which have not been published in the newspapers.
Why do these political aspirants kill just to acquire a government position which was primarily created by the law to SERVE the people in the first place? What motivates them to murder innocent lives just to ensure their win every election? How many lives do they have to take away just to exercise this so-called PUBLIC SERVICE.
A political candidate spends MILLION during election campaign because he wants to be elected and serve the people.
COME TO THINK OFF IT.
