The leader who toppled a dictator (3)

Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Conclusion

IN the context of our political system, however, possession of the virtues of SAHIG may not be enough.

If a person aspires to be an effective political leader, he or she must not only be qualified minimally as required by our election laws, such for example as being able “to read and write”, but of being equipped with the requisite knowledge that is needed to do the work of the public office he or she seeks.

For instance, if one seeks  a seat in the legislature of our country, the individual should have the ability to craft laws that he or she envisions would be good for the country. And to expound on its merits and defend it against all comers on the floor of the Senate or of the House of Representatives.

In short, in seeking public office, the person should first be honest with himself or herself.

Can he or she do the job called for the office he is seeking?

If, in all honesty, he or she cannot do the job, then, in fairness to the people and to the nation, the individual should refrain from making a false offering of himself or herself to the public because he or she would certainly be disaster to the public service.

For as the saying goes “no one can give what he or she does not have.”

In this regard, the people, themselves, as voters in our democratic society, have the duty to elect only candidates who are fit for the positions they seek.

And I do not mean only candidates for the presidency.

If, for instance, a candidate for the legislature only knows how to “read and write”, the basic literacy requirement for all candidates to public office, the people should not only be wary of voting for him or her – but should not vote – for that candidate at all.

The reason is obvious: the individual concerned would not be able to do his job as a legislator properly. That misplaced person would be wasting time totally. And, in effect, he or she would rob the people of their money that goes into his or her pocket in the form of salaries and allowances.

To cut short this piece, people, therefore, should vote only for a candidate who is qualified for the position that he or she is seeking.

Or, to put it more graphically in the context of the premises of our discussion, we should vote only for the individual who truthfully embodies the three “Cs”: Character, Competence and Courage and whose life bears the seal of SAHIG, like the Mark of Zorro, openly displayed, if not permanently branded, on his or her forehead for people to see not only during periods of election, but even in times of privacy.

As for friendship, let it not be the primary consideration for voting a candidate to public office. Be extra careful with friendship because it can blind you from seeing the defects of your friends who are running for public office.

The main reason why one ought to vote for any candidate should be the capability of the latter to serve the best interests of the people or as worded in many a political treatise, to promote the general welfare.

My friends, this intervention is getting too long.

Let me, therefore, just repeat the popular caveat as I close: the people get the leaders they deserve.

So, in the forthcoming elections, let’s vote wisely for the man or woman who would lead our country and people unto the path of development.

Not because the candidate has the money to buy our votes or the power to coerce our voting for him or her. But, because he or she has the qualifications or the capability to promote the public welfare – the good of many – over the interests of a few.

Are we prepared to do that as a people?

And is there such a candidate who’d deserve our trust and confidence?

Let us look for him or her. And together we should cast our votes for him or her to lead us – with God’s blessings – into a vibrant and productive future for our country and people.

(Excerpts from the talk of former senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. at a forum sponsored by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung at the Discovery Primea, Makati City.)