In pushing reform, the President also needs to be wise

This could be a piece of unsolicited advice to our beloved President Aquino.

He has a penchant for removing public officials from the service by shaming them first with great fanfare. The latest victims are officials in the Bureau of Customs. But strike the iron while it was hot he did not. He unwittingly let the iron cool down.

Thus, the iron is now starting to harden again, such that it can no longer be beaten and shaped according to the desired form, so to speak.

Walk the walk and talk the talk, he did not either. “Para  mong  ginalaw  at  binulabog  lamang  ang  bahay  ng  putakti.  Puwede  namang  pausukan  muna  at  maitaboy  nang  hindi  sinasaktan  upang  makuha  ang  pulot.” (It’s as if you disturbed a beehive when you could have just smoked out the bees to get the honey, without hurting them.) Surely, you have made yourself their enemy, hence they will run after you and sting you.

The residual effects and/or collateral damage are as follows:

1. The possibly innocent suspects would remain as suspects, including Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim, who were both described by many reputable newspaper columnists as honest and hardworking public servants. (I also sincerely believe so.)

2. The real culprits can cover up their tracks and fortify their defenses.

3. Seeds of hatred have been sown and in due time may become trees bearing rotten fruits of vengeance.

I admire the zealousness of President Aquino in reforming the government but he sometimes is carried away by passion to the extent of being repulsive. He can still attain the desired results by doing it discreetly and professionally.

For instance, in a boxing bout, a boxer can beat his opponent, even knock him out but still earn his respect because he did not play dirty.  The defeated is not robbed of his dignity, despite his loss.

Everything would be so much better if the President would mend his ways soonest. I wish him more wisdom and courage. I hope that someday I can proudly tell my only grandchild that P-Noy was one of the greatest presidents we ever had; that indeed he was worthy of his destiny to be the leader of this nation.

—ARMANDO LIBRANDO ALPAY,

c/o [email protected]