kopi talk Honesty in public service

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III may not be getting the best advice on specific issues confronting his office as some people increasingly point out, but at least during the short four months of his incumbency so far, the record shows a new momentum of change taking shape in the more important business of governance: Honesty in public service. This was revealed the other day at the President's meeting with the Filipino community in Hanoi which said the Philippines has improved its ranking in the Transparency International corruption index. The improvement is slight, all right, from 139th status last year to 134th this year out of 178 countries rated but Aquino is hopeful it will create a momentum towards a more desirable rating for the country - sooner than later. We will continue to do our part in the promotion of good governance, the President stressed. Still, a lot of people are suggesting the President, being a non-lawyer, should employ more assistants versed and educated in the delicate intricacies of the laws - experienced lawyers known for their scholarship and integrity - to provide him the confidence and the political virility he needs to run the country. More than at any other time, such legal support is needed precisely because of his constant skirmishes with the judiciary, particularly with the High Court. Just the other day, for instance, the President mentioned the judiciary anew, as one of the "obstacles needed to be hurdled in the administration's fight against corruption." It is for this that suggestions are being floated around for President Aquino to employ more knowledgeable lawyers in the presidential staff to give coherence to his legal stand on issues. His repeated use of homegrown logic in arguing his position on tangled issues does not encourage public assurance of a leader's brilliance. As has been correctly observed, the media - newspapers, radio, and television - follow public officials' every move, analyzing their utterances and deeds, questioning their every intention, second guessing their decisions, and casting doubt on their intelligence - not to mention their integrity. But just the same, what the people want is simple: Honesty and competence in public service - and we hope President Aquino is right that the momentum for change is pushing the country to better days ahead. (zhern_218@yahoo.com)