‘Super’ Secretary Romulo Neri Defends His ‘Virgin’ Honor

Romulo Neri, the tight-lipped outgoing interim chairman of the Commission on Higher Education and Director-General ‘on leave’ of the powerful National Economic Development Authority must be so brimming with integrity, and intellect, that he has just been given yet another chance “to better serve” the nation by being named to head the gargantuan private sector employees mutual fund, the Social Security System, vice the scoliosis-stricken and apparent ‘un-favorite’ of certain political whisperers but eminently qualified Corazon De La Paz.

But the latest feather in the bachelor’s cap is no ordinary feather, as Neri, the law-abiding citizen that he is, will also head the newly combined cluster of agencies directly implementing the top-priority pro-poor programs of the Arroyo administration.

So the UCLA-educated Neri (as he himself declared) has taken on the rank of ’super secretary and never mind that his appointment is not subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointment.

Neri took time to roll out his academic credentials as he took umbrage at new reports quoting personalities who were casting doubt on the wisdom of Neri’s nth promotion.

So huffing and puffing and beating his chest like a real man, Neri claimed that his “qualifications spoke for themselves.”

Perhaps. We guess the good ’super secretary was unaware of earlier reports questioning his fitness for office at CHED given his lack of a doctorate, something Neri has not denied.

Professor Randy David sums up, rather succinctly the reason why Mr. Neri has met a deluge of negative reactions to his new appointment. At the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Davi points out:

“Beyond the public perception of his unsuitability as administrator of a major fiduciary institution, however, there are valid constitutional grounds for objecting to his recent twin appointments as head of the SSS, a government financial institution (GFI), and as chairman, with Cabinet rank, of a newly formed National Social Welfare Council. Sen. Manuel Roxas II has raised the issue of conflict of interest. “Who will Romy Neri serve? Whose interest will be paramount in his mind? The instructions of the President, or the interest and welfare of all SSS members… There is a great deal of moral hazard in the situation that Romy Neri has been put into,” Roxas said in a television interview.

We have learned enough of how Neri behaves in morally hazardous situations to appreciate the soundness of Roxas’ statements. The possibility that the funds being managed by the SSS for the country’s workers may be squandered for political purposes or invested with a view to enriching some people is not idle speculation. It has happened before.”

Moving over to his new digs, Mr. Neri should also be told the president of the SSS employees union announced they will closely monitor their new boss and whose sticky political hands he might allow to dip into SSS coffers to advance pro-poor projects.

He should be reminded how, in the Filipino context, political patronage intended to to generate votes come election time are often clothed in motherhood statements and peppered with pro-people buzz words.