There have been many instances of merrymaking by government officials which became known to the public for their brazen infraction of office rules and protocols, if not Civil Service guidelines.
One such incident happened during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Police General Debold Sinas was greeted by his subordinates in the now-popular mañanita party which violated many established health protocols of the pandemic a couple of years ago.
Sinas is now happy, content and retired, working as chief security of a high-end hotel and casino in Parañaque.
Another example of these controversial parties is one held in a private place and attended by officials of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice.
Comedian Long Mejia performed at this event, which turned out to be not a birthday party or any kind of party at all. It was a conference of the NBI, the DOJ agency assigned "to provide quality investigative and forensic services to the people through advanced methods and equipment in the pursuit of truth and justice.”
After the conference proper and Mejia's comic remarks, a sexy female dancer, scantily clad, started to gyrate and entice the majority male crowd in an entertainment number that would rival those in the nightclubs of QC. Expectedly, netizens who saw the video of this performance were scandalized, furious, screaming, etc.
In a recent press conference, NBI Director Medardo de Lemos apologized over the controversy and said it was not their intention to offend anyone.
De Lemos said "if ever the dance performance last June 30 after our command conference offended our people’s sensibilities, especially women, we apologize.”
Their boss, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the NBI officials at the event were old men who thought they were young men enjoying the nighclub and beerhouse circuits. He ordered an investigation of the incident, but we believe nothing much in the way of punishment will happen here.
Learning no lesson and not to be outdone, workers and officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Port Management Office Bohol (PMO Bohol) were caught on surveillance camera having a party at the port's multi-purpose hall last August 16.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago sacked nine officials for their hand in the party, as he emphasized that a government office is not the place for drinking.
In a statement, the PPA said an investigation of the office’s surveillance video revealed PMO Bohol employees, officials, members of the port police, and a guest band joining the party led by Acting Port Manager Lord Tyrone Agaton.
Those sacked include Agaton, PMO Bohol Port Services Division Manager Julius Jumangit, lawyer Sherlito Columnas Jr. from the legal department, Safety Officer Romeo Cabading II, and port police officers Edcel Epan, Victor Cagulada, Mary Maricka Aguirre, Meljann Oronan, and Emily Ross Tubio.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said the individuals failed to show respect to office facilities and abused their power as government officials.
This incident, along with those in the NBI and the PNP, should drive home the point that government employees are public servants and they should respect their offices, ranks and positions.
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