“Don’t You Know Me?”: The Question To Fear Or The Question To Loathe?

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Photo by 19melissa68

As if the CARP issue and the alleged continued corruption are not enough to contend with, DAR is now faced with another issue of headline material -- this time, a story that if only for the news sources that covered it and the blogged story of the family member who was there with the victims, you'd seriously think this story is merely lifted from a movie scene or a usual mauling news printed in the inside of tabloids. And although the DAR chief didn't have direct participation, he stood there watching the events unfold as if a bemused spectator.

Where have these public officials' brains gone to? On extended Christmas vacation perhaps? What were these officials thinking? Are their mind and reality too twisted to see past their positions? Is that privilege of being a public official supposed to go into their over-sized heads? Must they carry that title with such arrogance and act as if they own the world? On the contrary, these people, being elected or appointed are all salaried employees of the Filipino people -- that alone should be enough reason for them to act accordingly if not with utter humility. Sadly, quite the opposite is true in real life. Is there any other statement more arrogant than "Hindi nila kami kilala! Sabihin mo nga sa kanila kung sino ako!" [You probably don't know who we are! Tell them who I am!"]

Wow. So is that how it works? Just because you are some public official, it's now every citizen of this country's duty to recognize your faces and remember your sparkling titles? And for what reason, may I ask? So that we can honor you and kiss your feet wherever you go? So that if we happen to see you anywhere, we'll let you "overtake" us and humbly oblige just because? Does your being a public official make you any special than the rest of us poor ordinary citizens of this country? Tell us, were you born to be worshipped? Has it even occured to you that holding public office is both a privilege and a responsibility? And that as opposed to the "ordinary" citizen, more is actually expected of you? Must you be reminded to act accordingly in private and moreso in public? How arrogant can you be to ignore the fact that people will actually know what you did? And because you hold public office, that offense is expected to be magnified 10 times over? Why on earth have you allowed your emotions to get the better of you and poured it over an old man and a kid?

Regardless of the reason and regardless of who you are, this behavior, by any measure , is unacceptable. While I understand that public officials are as human as any of us, it is precisely their positions that require them to always act accordingly, decide wisely and react to situations like this with more restraint because they don't only represent themselves but also the government (when they are here) and the entire Filipino people (when they're abroad).

And they even have gun-carrying bodyguards with them for pete's sake. It's not like any other person will fight back should these officials start a fight themselves.

And besides, we know the rules. If you are pissed off, yell out loud and curse if that'll make you cool off after. It's a lot easier to forgive and forget. But to resort to physical abuse -- now, that's foul. No one is allowed to do that, even in the direst of circumstances.

And the timing could not have been any ironic -- it was a day after Christmas.

I sincerely hope justice will be served swiftly -- as swift as -- if not swifter than the time it took the blows hit the victims.

Don't you know me? I bet you don't. So my dears, there is nothing to fear or loathe.

Do I know them? You bet I do. And I bet that now you do too. And that gives us all the more reason to despise such actions and people.

So next time you go strolling down the park or swing your golf clubs, beware. People who hold public office no longer deserve public trust.

Suggested Further Reading:

• Romulo Neri, NBN-ZTE, SC Ruling: “Executive Privilege” Saves The Day
• Philippine Blog Awards 2 (PBA 2008): All Systems Go!
• The Prodigal Son is Not Welcome
• Typhoon Ondoy Helplines: Who You Gonna Call?
• Kalayaan 2008: Losing the Spirit of Freedom

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