PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo Lacson has made it his mission to remove unqualified or undeserving government officials from their posts, especially political appointees who don’t perform the duties of their office.

Lacson stressed that he sees this as a form of thievery not only of the nation’s coffers, but also of opportunities that could go to more deserving Filipinos.

He said the “palakasan” and “padrino” systems still prevail in the appointment of head of government agencies. He vowed to break the system should he get elected in May.

“Ang problema sa ibang mga political appointee ay kung saan-saan kinukuha. Kung sino ‘yung kakilala o kung sino ‘yung sabihin na nating … o kaya kababayan, wala nang pili-pili. Hindi na talaga nag-re-rely sa expertise kapag may in-a-appoint,” Lacson added.

“Parang sinasabi ‘hindi, minor lang namang ano ‘yan, hindi naman ‘yan Cabinet position, mga director position. Puwede na ‘yang si ganito, kakilala naman natin ‘yan’,” he said.

The lawmaker said it is important that an official’s skills match the position he/she is given so he/she can plan and come up with solutions to the prevailing problems of the agency.

“Minsan may balasubas pa na sa halip na pag-aralan ‘yung trabaho niya, pag-aaralan naman paano kikita,” Lacson said.

“Walang skills matching e. Kung sino lang ‘yung kakilala sasabihin ‘Sige, puwede na ‘yan doon. Pagdating doon mag-aaral’,” he said.

Lacson said the principle of leadership by example must prevail in government, because leaders cannot say one thing and do something else.

“No one will believe you that way,” the senator said.