Two articles that appeared in the Opinion section have already responded to Sara Duterte’s stand on honesty. Because I found these responses timely, relevant and enlightening, I would like to restate three of them.
To begin with, Sara declared that honesty should not be an electoral issue. As pointed out by Rachel A.G. Reyes, (“Honesty, lies and Sara Duterte,” 3/16/19), the Constitution states that public office is a public trust. This means that we should elect officials that we can trust and are therefore honest, meaning that honesty is an election issue.
Next, Sara asserted that there is no legal requirement for senatorial contenders to be honest and truthful. Again, the same article above pointed out that the Constitution explicitly says that the State shall maintain honesty and integrity in public service. I interpret this to mean that honesty and truthfulness are a legal requirement for public office.
Finally, Sara claimed that all politicians lie and everybody lies. “We may all be sinners,” according to Remmon E. Barbaza (“Six points concerning honesty,” 3/17/19) “but we are still commanded to reject sin and not simply accept it as a matter of fact.” In other words, if it is true that we are all liars and evil, instead of permitting and embracing such a condition, we must fight and change it.
Credibility is also an issue here. Did Sara downplay honesty because her bets are dishonest? Does she trust them? Should we believe their credentials, positions and promises? When Sara said all politicians and people lie, was she telling the truth or lying?
JORI GERVASIO R. BENZON, Pandacan, Manila joribenzon@gmail.com