What is betrayal of public trust?

With the coming Holy Week, we shall again recall the betrayal of Judas against his master, Jesus and such travesty reminds us how trust is abused by people who are relied upon.

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez

We again wonder how confidence is breached by people who should be the last one to bite the hands that made them. In the ongoing House impeachment proceedings, one of the charges against the vice president is her alleged betrayal of public trust.

To us ordinary mortals, when we elect public officials, especially the president and the vice president, we repose on them our trust and confidence to govern the nation and lead the people with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, to act with patriotism and justice, and to live modest lives.

Any act and omission that betrays such a trust and violates the confidence should call for an investigation. If found guilty, they should be punished. To impeach a sitting president or vice president and to convict them, based on betrayal of public trust, would mean people are taking back the trust because the incumbent is unworthy.