BACOLOD CITY — In this country, reputed to be the most corrupt in Asia, searching for an honest man is, to use an idiom, like looking for a needle in a haystack. We got the needle.

And we have found that man now, a former Marine officer, Major Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency who effected the arrest and the busting of a drug syndicate of three scions of rich families of Alabang, whom media has dubbed the “Alabang Boys.”

President Arroyo will earn points in her campaign against corruption if she puts Marcelino up on a pedestal to be emulated, honored, and revered by our young people of what a true Filipino should be, standing firmly on what is right and trampling what is wrong, and not wavering a bit.

As a Major and being just an employee, Marcelino can hardly make both ends meet yet, he turned down an offer of a bribe of as high as P30 million, to fight the drug menace in the country.

How many of us can do that?

* * *

His life story is one of dedication to the service of the country, fighting the rebels in Mindanao as a Marine officer. He was the head of the intelligence group in the Dos Palmas kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf in Palawan of 20 people including three Americans.

His intelligence work led to the killing of Abu Sayyaf commander Aldam Tilao, known as Abu Sabaya. He graduated at PMA in 1994 and belongs to the class that formed the rebellious Magdalo group.

His classmates could not convince him to join them because he believed a military life is a life of hardship and it is for the purpose of serving his country.

Marcelino is incorruptible and the PDEA assignment suits him.

* * *

As reported in the Inquirer Wednesday, he was a working student and wanted to enroll in college but had no money. His job in a construction firm could not help. But he learned the value of hard work, sacrifice, and honesty.

Then he saw an ad in “The Dawn”, school organ of University of the East, that offered free tuition and an honorarium. He knew he could write.

While working with “The Dawn,” he also took a sideline as a police reporter of a tabloid. It was while interviewing the PMA commandant that he learned of a PMA entrance exam. He entered PMA and graduated in 1994. Until now, he is still a poor man.

He is battle-scarred in Mindanao. And he was about to go abroad for schooling when offered a job at PDEA where he saw a big challenge.

He was given difficult assignments. which he did very well. So, he was promoted to head the Special Enforcement Service.

He is standing up to defend PDEA and his crusade to stop the very serious drug menace to the country.

We salute our hero. Let him tour the country to speak to media, to students to inspire them to be upright and honest. Let him spread the prestige of PDEA. Let’s proclaim him a hero like Manny Pacquiao and Jun Lozada.

* * *

If we lack honest people, it’s because we lack reading materials on honesty. Let’s have books and comics of honest people.

U.S. literature tells of George Washington’s honesty admitting to his father he cut the cherry tree.

Our young should be told of Aesop’s fable of the woodman and the axe. A woodman was cutting a wood near the river bank when his axe fell into the water. Mercury saw him crying and wanted to help.

Mercury made a dive and brought up an axe made of gold. Not mine, said the woodman. He dove again and brought up the axe made silver. Still not mine, said the woodman. Mercury dove again and brought up an iron axe. Yes, that’s mine, he said.

Impressed by the woodman’s honesty, Mercury gave him all the axes.

* * *

One of our early great pre-war writers was Jose Garcia-Villa. He wrote a beautiful story, Princess Mir-i-Nisa, beautiful daughter of the Sultan of Sulu. Many young suitors wanted to marry her but the Sultan wanted to subject them to tests, especially in swimming and diving.

Two young men competed. The Sultan showed them a big gem and said he would row into the sea, throw it and the one who could retrieve it would marry Mir-i-Nisa.

He rowed into the sea and threw the gem. The two rowed their boats following him. They swam and dove to get the gem. An hour later one came back holding a gem triumphantly.

Some minutes later another followed, exhausted and slumped into the sand and admitted he lost.

The Sultan called the crowd and made the announcement. “He (pointing to the fellow on the sand) will marry Mir-i-Nisa. He is honest. I did not throw the gem. It is here with me.”

Let us teach our people to be honest, especially the young.

Let us cheer Ferdinand Marcelino like we cheered Jun Lozada and Manny Pacquiao. We need them as heroes of our young and ours too.

2 Responses to “Ferdinand Marcelino, hero”

• 1
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  January 9th, 2009 21:39

  Where’s the honest people gone? Nowadays, it’s all about MONEY and more money. Good grief, you need more people like Ferdinand Marcelino, and yet he was scolded by DOJ Secretary for exposing a 50 million peso bribe. Is this how your Government works to promote efficiency, transparency and accoutability? Give me a break.
• 2
  lorenzeroe
  January 16th, 2009 15:08

  Hi!

  In behalf of Major Ferdinand Marcelino, I would like to inform all of his supporters that he has read all your comments, compliments, and messages of support for him. He extends his warm gratitude to everyone who stands behind him and the Agency in our current battle. He wants to impart his personal conviction to everyone who is willing to change for the better:

  “We can change the Philippines – One Filipino at a time, one Agency at a time – at uumpisahan ko sa sarili ko!”

  On a personal note:
  This is just the beginning. Our Agency is about to face a much dangerous path in our aim to fight for what is right. I ask everyone to continue on supporting us to achieve justice and a drug free Philippines.

  Thank You,
  Lorenzeroe

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