Cutting off branches that do not bear fruits

In today’s gospel St. John tells of the message of Jesus when he said he is the vine and the believers are the branches. The branches cannot bear fruits by themselves if they do not abide with the vine. Applying this to the government and the Duterte administration, “cutting off the branches that do not abide” means purging the corrupt or ineffective. It is the leader’s responsibility to choose the men and women who will help him run the organization. And if chosen leaders do not deliver, they shall be dismissed.

The first one to be chosen apostle was Andrew. He was groomed to be the leader of the 12 apostles. But over the months, Jesus discovered him to be good in managing but not in leading. Managing includes planning their trips to villages outside Bethsaida, Capernaum, and Galilee, and preparing schedules, logistics, and keeping track of funds. Andrew was not a good leader because he did not like to talk in public. He could not mentor, counsel, and coach others. That should also be the competency or set of competencies of Duterte’s Cabinet. They must have KASH; knowledge, attitude, skills, and habits to motivate others, build teams, and solve conflicts in relationships.

Of course, we cannot compare Duterte to Jesus. They are poles apart. But in terms of leadership, one positive trait of Duterte is he does not hesitate to fire friends from Davao, classmates from San Beda, or even long-time associates and faithful adherents. Duterte hires people and fires them like crazy. He does not care for protocol. He is a man in a hurry. He has limited time and has no inclination to delay. In fact, he has hurt a number of friends already. But he does not care. This is not about keeping friends. This is about making decisions that affect 110 million Filipinos.

Duterte holds the prerogative to choose people and fire them if they do not deliver. If they engage in graft, put themselves in a conflict-of-interest position, or make highly questionable decisions. The president has no obligation to keep them. They do not have security of tenure.

They remain at the pleasure of the appointing power. Just like the branches, they can be cut off and burned if they do not bear fruits. Not bearing fruits because of incompetence, corruption, plain stupidity, or ineptitude, then they have to go. There is no due process for high government officials. Their shady reputation is enough to fire them.

Yes, non-performing and corrupt officials and personnel must go. They are the branches that do not abide with the vine. They must be cut off and burned. No matter if there shall be much gnashing of teeth. No ifs, no buts. It is not about friendship. It is about leadership.