THE KNIGHTS AT THE ROUND TABLE
by Donald Sevilla
What is it we hear that there are too many eyes and ears in the corridors of power at the capitol?
The new administration ascended into office on a platform of transparency and anti-corruption. It achieved its goal of regaining Bohol from the hands of a non-Boholano so they say, in obvious reference to the capitol’s previous occupant. Yet we hear stories of various personnel in place that come from other places. Pasig out, Davao in.
While the intricacies of governance require help from able and competent people in their field, it serves the public best to know who we are dealing with. In a bid to promote transparency and accountability people should know who are those helping run the affairs at the capitol.
The law allows for the hiring of consultants and experts to help the top executive but wouldn’t it be better to know what are their roles, how they are compensated and whereof they come from?
A good leader knows how to gather and utilize his team but how far should it be done without upsetting government’s precious resources? We remember vividly how the late former Governor Nonoy Torralba drew flak for having hired seven technical consultants in his time.
This time around how many are there? While definitely two heads are better than one to weigh in on things, too many advisers and horse-whisperers create the danger of mini-power blocs that lead to an inner circle within a larger circle that caters to specific interests competing with one another.
The High Council at Kings Landing is ripe with intrigue, betrayal and treachery. But at the end of the day, how the King is able to unify and muster his team matters in the success or doom of his kingdom.
Too many cooks can spoil the broth, but what if there was no master cook to begin with? With a multitude of advisers and whisperers around, who is in charge?