Ombudsman Outburst:Childish, Arrogant
LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves…” (Isaiah 1:23, the Holy Bible).
OMBUDSMAN’S OUTBURST: CHILDISH, IMMATURE, ARROGANT: Childish. Immature. And recklessly arrogant. These, to many, sum up the public outburst made last July 01, 2015 by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, when she lambasted her critics who are accusing her of double standard of justi
First, the use by a supposedly dignified official occupying the very lofty and noble position of Ombudsman of street language, such as “nabubuwisit ako”or, roughly, “I am already fed up”in describing how she felt about those criticizing her is cockiness of the highest order.
Why, as a government official whose salary is paid by the taxes of the Filipino people, including her detractors, she is mandated to act and speak prudently at all times, ever mindful that she is first and foremost a “public servant” who should always be amenable to comments and criticisms, especially in relation to her official duties and responsibilities.
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OMBUDSMAN LACKS UNDERSTANDING OF HER POSITION: Second, Morales’ display of anger at people who talk about her conduct as an official of government betrays her dangerous lack of understanding (or even of her deliberate refusal to understand) of her real role as a public servant, which immediately raises issues about her competence and integrity to remain in her position.
This is inexplicable since she is a former justice of the Supreme Court, and is now the top government graft buster as the Ombudsman, tasked with the duty of seeing to it that all those serving in government must maintain a sensitivity to the people’s needs and desires.
Morales’ outburst is proof enough that either she really does not know what is required of her as Ombudsman, or that the power of her position has already gone to her head, making her unable to realize the ramifications of public outbursts from an officials occupying such a very sensitive position.
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OMBUDSMAN MUST RESIGN OR BE FIRED: Either way, there is a need for her to voluntarily relinquish her position now, or for her to be fired as an Ombudsman, so that President Aquino can appoint someone in her place who would be more tolerant or understanding of criticisms, whether constructive or not.
And so Morales is reminded once again of what is expected her as an Ombudsman, I am reproducing here the following Constitutional and statutory provisions about government officials: “Section 1, Art. 11, 1987 Constitution: Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.
“Section 2., RA 6713: Declaration of Policies. – It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.”
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