In tandem with the absence of moral ascendancy in this code red situation is the lack of accountability among public officials. What happened to the basic principles of checks and balances in government among the judiciary, the legislative and the executive branches? His admission of leading an immoral life “reeks of machismo unbecoming of a public servant, more so of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” according to Gabriela representatives. The House Speaker is right in pointing out that graft and corruption is the real issue at hand. It is also equally true that the distraction is a real issue, because public officials, especially those elected by the people, must stand on higher moral ground if they are to lead the people and their colleagues in the House with conviction without abandoning M/V Las Islas Filipinas and its passengers floundering in the high seas without a moral compass.

Source: Manila Times April 01, 2017 16:41 UTC