‘Wang-wang’: public display of arrogance

I would like to express a few ideas in reaction to the editorial titled “‘Wang-wang’ lives” (Opinion, 10/31/14). For the nth time, some public officials, including their family members, are so ego-driven that they insolently display in public their arrogance, at the expense of the meek, lowly and law-abiding citizens. They think that they are above the law and are entitled to put down anyone who crosses their path. They feel that they can just throw their weight around any time it pleases them, without accountability. They reason they could still get themselves elected into office anyway, despite the scandals they are caught in. How arrogant these power-consumed public officials are!

As a matter of opinion, let me stipulate a few things about the public display of arrogance by some officials in government:

1. I find vanity license plates of public officials as pompous and they smack of arrogance.

2. Too many credit cards owned by public officials is, to me, an example of arrogance;

3. The flaunting of flashy cars and outfits, while being escorted by a number of bodyguards, is another form of “wang-wang.”

4. So is the fielding of many family members to run for elective positions.

While we dream to have a corruption-free government, we also wish to have a style of leadership that is not deluded by arrogance of power.

“Government service is people-oriented; high-strung and belligerent behavior has no place therein” (Macalua vs. Tiu Jr., 275 SCRA 320, July 11, 1997). Indeed, elected officials, be they national or local, are public servants, and the people are their “bosses.” They should bear this in mind and behave in this manner.

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

assistant city council secretary,

Marikina City