Delicadeza – what’s that?

By Jose B. Maroma, Jr

The word “delicadeza” has become so much a part of our finer sense of values that it is sometimes invoked in cases where highly placed officials in government get away with misconduct and show no remorse for their misdeeds.

These prominent persons find convenient cover behind the shield of so-called due process and continued “confidence” of the appointing power.

The common retort to calls for resignation is the now familiar snobbish line, “I serve at the pleasure of the President.” It’s one way of bragging, “the hell with public opinion. I owe my loyalty to the Big Boss, not to the people.”  It is very sad, to say the least.

Political appointees should realize that good performance is sometimes a game of perception not easily verifiable by hard evidence. One may believe he is doing well but if the public he serves perceives him as bad, he’s bad just the same and won’t enjoy public support.

Julius Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia because of suspicion of infidelity, an accusation which was never proven, but Caesar had to divorce her just the same because the wife of someone like Caesar must be “beyond suspicion.”

Lack of confidence, not proof beyond reasonable doubt, is all it takes for a self-respecting important public figure to consider stepping down.

The latest case of apparent lack of delicadeza is that of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. If the calls for his resignation proceed from respected members of the Senate and the Lower House, as well as from the Private Hospitals Association, there must be some sense to the demand for Duque’s resignation.

It’s true that the President announced his continued confidence in Sec. Duque but the pronouncement must be a political statement which must be taken with a grain of salt.

Sec. Duque could make it easier for his boss to make a decision if he just hands in a courtesy resignation which could easily be rejected anyway, if the President really wants to keep the beleaguered secretary.

Unfortunately, “delicadeza” doesn’t exist where the “kapit tuko” mentality still thrives. As a familiar saying goes, “we get the government that we deserve.”

The author is a retired civil engineer from Cabatuan, Iloilo. He likes to spend his time reading and writing on the burning issues of the day