Either he was simply Rip Roaring to get on with the work or just being his careless self once again, but Ebdane seemed to have lost sense if not sensitivity by announcing that one of his priorities is to insulate the soldiers and the AFP from being misused in the coming elections.
Hello?! Are you alright, Sir!
The statement was certainly a gem, considering several members of Congress wants to put him on the rack (IF he dares to face the Commission on Appointments) to ask details about a specific plane ride with a person named GARCI.
But then again the fruit as they say does not fall far from the tree. They may not be related but he might as well be family to the President who also got "raked in hot coals" for her recent call for "clean and honest elections".
Perhaps the monitors at Malacañang can suggest that all members of the "Presidential family" each buy a copy of "God’s little devotional calendar".
For January 31 it states: "The trouble with the guy who talks too fast is that he often says something he hasn’t thought of yet".
Even more appropriate was the one on January 26: "It is better to be silent and be considered a fool than to speak and remove all doubt".
Before making attempts at such lofty ideals for the benefit of our brothers in uniform, Secretary Ebdane might try more realistic efforts at restoring the dignity of men in uniform.
For instance, I recently saw a van full of men sporting military crewcut, fatigues and all at a toll booth in Batangas. The curious site was that they had about a dozen "GRASS CUTTERS" as their weapon of choice.
They presumably came from an officer’s farm, where they spruced up the place to improve the security and safety of valuable fighting cocks.
In the last 20 years I can recall abuse, excess, and disrespect for men in uniform who are used as DRIVERS, HOUSEBOYS, FARM GUARDS, YAYAS, UNPAID LABORERS by AFP officials.
We often see them painting their houses, washing their cars, accompanying kids to skating, gym, tennis or basketball practice. I realize that given a choice between cutting grass or dodging bullets, the choice would be obvious.
But listen to the harangue, verbal abuse, the demeaning treatment that officers’ wives, kids, even househelp dish out on these SOLDIERS and you can easily understand why some of them go APE shit in camp.
The media has focused on the abuse of government personnel using government vehicles for personal use. But this one takes the cake. The widespread abuse of government and military officials using SOLDIERS for personal use!!!
Ebdane can also put his money where his mouth is by actually making an effort to eradicate legitimized corruption of officers in uniform. There has been a lot of talk about salary increases for government personnel.
While everyone is arguing about 10% increase versus across the board increases, the military and the PNP continue to institute a graft-ridden system where soldiers are given so-called increases thru their subsistence allowance or what is simply called the food in the field allowance and hazard pay.
The problem with the "allowance" system is it’s like having a father who decides when you get the money and where you get the money.
If you have a great commander, good for you! But if he’s some corrupt cousin of Satan feeding on the food of soldiers, don’t blame soldiers if they end up as cattle rustlers or chicken thieves.
If we are giving salary increases to soldiers, put it under SALARY. They earn it everyday in the battlefield protecting the behinds of officers who have forgotten what a real soldier is all about.
Perhaps Ebdane can even prove us all wrong by spending time with Tony Meloto of the Gawad Kalinga movement.
Ebdane can wipe the slate clean and leave a legacy of respect for our men in uniform by simply focusing on establishing a GK type movement in the AFP as well as the PNP where men learn self respect and fear of GOD.
Forget the bullshit and pipe dreams called modernization, some politician will once again seal the money if some country is still stupid enough to lend it.
Under the Gawad Kalinga model, the AFP has more than enough resources both human and material to develop a reformed and respected AFP.
Defensor earns the title simply as a result of his job and his dedication to the administration of President Arroyo. But in the case of Migs Zubiri, it’s actually an off-shoot of his senatorial ambitions.
Zubiri undoubtedly respects the power of media but he seems to treat it more as a promotional tool like a carnival rather than an industry that can see through his masquerade.
Zubiri first got into the news recently for reportedly buying the rights to a very popular jingle which is now cloaked with suspicion as a mere plagiarism. Zubiri’s reported intent is to use the jingle during his campaign for the Senate.
This last week Zubiri hit the airwaves with the alternative fuel law commercial which clearly exaggerated the actual accomplishments of the bill and was designed more for Zubiri’s popularity than to educate people.
I always believed in Miguel Zubiri’s potential and it pains me to be critical of his intentions but young people like him should realize that public service is not something you decide to focus on a few months before every election.
He should realize that more than his media extravaganza, his work, his accomplishments, his dedication must be things seen, felt and certainly not mostly "heard". It’s not about looking good, it’s about being good. Rather than reaping goodwill, several media people have reacted in a very negative or cynical manner to the bio fuel thing.
Perhaps this will be the new thing during the campaign, media going one on one with every candidate and the stunts they pull. As for Migs, we want to see your heart, not your ad bro.