Ben Contreras WHY it pays to pay for a government position. For one, we’ve been in a system of graft and corruption that’s deeply imbedded, and seems to be institutionalized. Just keep your silence and be a team player, money will just get into your drawer, bank account or personally delivered. Any attempt to put a stop to this would face strong resistance not because they do not know it’s wrong but more because once in, it’s not going to stop since the blight is already there. When one is already wet, he might as well take a bath. This rotten system has been going on for decades, passed on from one administration to the next. Our president may have the right intentions but he is not perfect, and the people he appointed might bring him shame. The Bureau of Immigration incident may just be one. But there are also stories of people who paid to get a desired position. Nepotism may not really be a big issue, but when abused, it doesn’t look good to the public. But some appointees had the wrong notion about “kami na sad or kami na naman or it’s our turn,” sort of saying “weather-weather lang.” I have heard of people who are sincere to get a government position and help. A few who were successful eventually got out because they cannot stomach the dirty system. Others failed because they lack connection. Still, others want to get in for the wrong reasons like those who ran in the elections for the wrong reason. Who was that who said, “Duterte is our last hope”? I couldn’t agree more. But it is common knowledge that the forces that resist change are great that their money gets into the pockets of those who are willing to be paid instruments. Of course, there are those with honest conviction who deserve respect. One of Duterte’s appointive secretaries who made great impact is Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol. He works in silence, his accomplishments are not being picked up by mainstream media but mostly found their way into social media. Another is Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo who shuns publicity. She saw to the completion of the unfinished job in Tacloban. Environment Secretary Gina Lopez is a latecomer in a sense that it took her quite some time to seriously do what she needs to do. But her job would have the biggest impact to our well-being: the environment. Big mining companies were initially against her, she being a known activist in some point of her life. Well, it took her seven months to find out the extent of the destruction of our mountains and rivers. Better late than never, they love to say. Perhaps, she should realize by now that the DENR needs a thorough overhaul, not just by replacing the heads. Otherwise, her effort would just be an act of futility. Her elusiveness is not helping her. She should be reachable to those who want to help and provide information. Our PNP chief better do something to prove that he is not soft to his kind. Push-ups are not punishment. Outright dismissal is. The challenge has been made that the PNP can’t stop the people behind the murder of a Korean. If Bato will not act the way he did on the war on drugs, he will go down in shame. It’s a long way to go to attain change but it is worth every minute for those who are sincere.