What about the non-whistleblowers?

What about the non-whistleblowers?

Inquirer
First Posted 11:56pm (Mla time) 08/17/2006

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Published on Page A14 of the August 17, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEPUTY Ombudsman for Luzon, Victor C. Fernandez invited me to attend the launching last Aug. 4 of the "AHA: A Citizen's Primer on Whistleblowing and Tipping" in Quezon City.

During the open forum, I was fortunate to have been one of the five guests asked to raise some issues relative to whistle blowing. Please allow me to share with the readers these humble observations.

Of course, I thank the Office of the Ombudsman, Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus and the USAID-Rule of Law and Effectiveness Project for their efforts to help curb graft and corruption in the government. The launching of the primer indeed eloquently demonstrates their sincere desire to promote decency, transparency and accountability in government service.

Not surprisingly, the primer is focused on the required legal knowledge, tipping strategies and techniques, fears and other concerns of the whistleblower. In sum, the primer is a tool-guide only for the whistleblower or would-be tipster.

There is no question that we must be concerned with the safety and security of the whistleblower. However, we should take into account, with equal concern, the "non-whistleblower." By reporting doubtful transactions in the government office where he is working, the whistleblower becomes a nitpicker among the non-whistleblowers. The whistleblower is condemned as a faultfinder.

For sure, the naughty non-whistleblower's impulse will be to hate the whistleblower and find ways not to be caught red-handed by the latter. It becomes a consumptive ritual for the whistleblower to be vigilant and to nitpick and the non-whistleblower to be cautious and not to be caught.

I strongly suggested during the open forum that the government should start introducing the non-whistleblower to the Gospel values of honesty, integrity, discipline and the significance of a Christian work ethic.

If all of us who are against graft and corruption in the government dare face the realities of our time as courageously as the whistleblower, we must admit a miscarriage of focus: the education of the non-whistleblower on such values. Doubtless, if we can do this, one day there will be no more whistleblowers to nitpick the non-whistleblowers.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan