What lies beneath?

Why do our leaders fail? Our leaders fail because they have become too selfish, too numb, over confident, arrogant, and dishonest. They have also abused their power.

When you rate yourself a 9 out of a 10 in national television, you are telling the whole world that you are good, really good. C’mon! Are you really?

Maybe the question shouldn’t have been asked in the first place. In hindsight, the public would have expected you to be more humble as you should have at least rated yourself with a lower number – maybe a 6 or a 7 even if others would have thought otherwise?

During the senate inquiry last week, when Senator Grace Poe graciously and patiently questioned Purisima, we saw what lies beneath this man. The way he smiled, smirked, looked, answered and made eye contact was a revelation of his spirit. After the inquisition, he stood up with his head held high, gestured sportsmanship with a somewhat poker face, unaffected by what just happened. Right away, at that moment, he was able to reveal his true colors. We knew what kind of man he was.

Yet, despite all these our President continues to defend him as the Palace spokesman announces to the entire nation that Purisima is on “a high moral ground.” Sanamagan! He may have saved your life at one point Mr. President but he definitely does not deserve acclamation and glorification right now.

Don’t forget Purisima is facing a P100 million plunder charge over his alleged involvement in a license delivery deal. Apparently, the PNP allegedly entered into a contract with a ‘bogus’ company not yet registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission during the time the deal was brokered. Talk about law and order, protection and safety.

Then you have the PNP “White House” issue. Not to mention the crimes committed by some PNP personnel that is getting rampant day by day.

Why did P-Noy make him the PNP Chief? Who is Alan Purisima?

Alan Purisima was born on November 21, 1959. He grew up in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur. He is married to Maria Ramona Lydia Isidoro Purisima, with whom he has four sons.

He is a product of the public school system. After completing his secondary education at the Ilocos Sur National High School, he enrolled in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1977. He was part of DIMALUPIG Class 1981. After his graduation from the PMA, he joined the Philippine Constabulary. He earned a Masters of Public Administration degree from Manuel L. Quezon University in 1995.

Here is a list of key positions Director General Purisima has held: Team Leader of the Task Force, an Intelligence Officer, Commanding Officer of the Presidential Group of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), Operations Officer of the PC Special Action Force (SAF), Commanding Officer of the 151st PNP Mobile Force Company, Chief of the District Police Investigation Unit (DPIU), Western Police District Command (WPDC), Chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID), Task Force Gagamba of the NCRPO, Luzon Area Office of Special Task Group (STAG), Chief of Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), Chief of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF), Task Force Commander of TF Anti-Private Armed Groups (PAGs), Chief Directorial Staff of the Civil Security Group, Executive Officer/Deputy Director of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), Technical Working Group tasked to revise the PNP Criminal Investigation Manual, authored the revision of criminal investigation course with various specializations and was appointed PRO3 as its Regional Director. He also became the Regional Director of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and was appointed Police Deputy Director General.

During the turnover ceremony of PNP Chief Bartolome to Purisima at Camp Crame on December 18, 2012, PNoy said that he has known Purisima since 1987 when he was part of his mother’s Presidential Security Group. Aquino said of Purisima: “Our bonds have been tried and tested; we know that we stand by each other on the straight path, in service to our countrymen. This explains my utmost confidence that he will always side with what is right, and that he can ensure meaningful, positive change among the ranks of our police force – especially when compared to the system we inherited.”

I’m not quite sure if I should be happy with all his merits/ achievements or be sad? The question lingers in my mind. Did he influence his people in the right way or the wrong way? Has he led the PNP to oblivion?

We seem to have a shortage of leaders in this country. So far, several of the President’s men who should have been kicked out a long time ago are still hanging on. Susmariosep!

I truly salute the kind of loyalty your men have toward you and vice-versa but this is a nation you are running, not a game Mr. President. The future of our country is at stake here right now and the leaders you choose are all destroying the fabric of this nation thru their ethos.

This ‘cuddling’ mode you have is a perfect ingredient for your leadership to fail. When the highest ranking official of the land becomes subjective in making his decisions, he is bound to become ineffective in his work. If his workers are ineffective, he should change them. Why keep them?

If you tell the people that things are right even when they are actually wrong, you are sending the wrong message and what’s worse is that you are influencing people in the wrong way. Do not forget that you influence others by what you say and do – by what you stand for.

By telling us that your Prado is worth P1.5 million even if the market value is clearly higher, you are already telling us what kind of leader you are. When you tell us that your house is not a mansion but clearly is a huge property, you are giving away your soul. When you tell us that the construction of the “white house” was done out of friendship, that spells out disaster not for us but for your leadership.

Leaders who inspire, have integrity, honesty, commitment, confidence, values, are ethical, know how to communicate – have high personal standards. When these elements are absent, a leader is doomed to fail.