So what’s wrong with doing things the right way?

In his column titled “Jojo Binay’s juvenile tantrum” (Metro, Inquirer, 5/9/13), Ramon Tulfo wrote that Comelec Commissioner Elias Yusoph is “so strict you’d think he is the king who holds life-and-death power over his subjects.” He further stated that the commissioner “wants citizens applying for exemptions to the gun ban to kowtow to him even if these citizens are not running for public office or not connected to any candidate or political party.”

Pretty strong statements! But Tulfo failed to mention how, or in what way, Yusoph was “strict.” He didn’t explain either just exactly what he meant when he said Yusoph wanted applicants for gun ban exemptions to “kowtow” to him. Clearly, this sounds like a “Damn if you do and damn if you don’t” situation.

If Yusoph was “strict” because he wanted to make sure that rules would be followed to the letter, what was wrong with that? It’s about time that this country had someone like Yusoph, someone who is honest enough to “do it right,” and who, because of his conscientious way of doing his job, could be a role model for others to emulate and, we hope, would help restore discipline among our people in the long run.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the Filipinos, for a change, learn how to obey the rules? Can anyone imagine what that would mean for the whole country if everyone becomes disciplined enough to appreciate the importance of doing  their job “according to the book” as Yusoph is obviously doing? No more cheating, no more corruption, no more free-loaders in the government, no more  trapo, no more chaotic traffic… no more “me, me“ and “what’s-in-it-for-me” mentality, and… you got it!

No more of all those ugly traits and behaviors that have reduced this once proud and progressive nation into a stagnant and corruption-infested country, where a great majority of the people have, for decades now, been mired in poverty because of this country’s penchant for taking short cuts and for bending rules.

—JUANITO T. FUERTE,

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