LEADERSHIP is defined as the capacity to establish direction and to influence and align others toward a common goal, motivating and committing them to action and making them responsible for their performance (answer.yahoo.com, 2016). Another definition of leadership states that leadership is the human factor which binds a group together and motivates toward a particular goals (Davis, 2016).

Dictatorship, on the other hand, is defined as a government or a social situation where one person makes all the rules and decisions without input from anyone else.

            Dictatorshipimplies absolute power — one person takes control — of a political situation, a family, a classroom or even a camping expedition. Dictatorship is a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc. In government, a dictatorship leaves no room for input from anyone who is not the top guy or gal. The noun comes from the late 14th century Latin word,dictare, which means to “repeat or say often.” In a dictatorship, one person keeps repeating the same command: “My way or the highway.”(vocabulary.com)

            The Philippines is a democratic country, where the ideals of justice, freedom and equality pervade or at least we are trying to, hence the practice of absolutism or dictatorship is generally rebuked and frowned at, not to mention illegal. The power of the government emanates from the people: it is government from the people, by the people and for the people.

To ensure that we can all be protected against those who want to subvert our freedom, Article III of the 1986 Philippine Constitution known as the Bill of Rights contains the provisions that make us free as a Filipino people such as …..the right to life, the right to free expression, the right to petition and to seek grievances, the right to look into public document….

Unfortunately, there are a lot people at the top of the organizations, big or small, especially in government service, whose idea of shared governance and accountability that are integral in all the laws that govern the agencies, are positively nil. Their attitude reveals of superiority, contempt for others and ownership of the establishment. Simply put, they have become dictators whose words are law. Tales of abuses surround from  simple harassments  to life and death conditions, all in the name of absolute power.

The democratic principles are supposed to transcend in all forms of societal life: family, religion, in public or in private institutions, in big or small organization.    

In the office, it is bad enough when a leader would dictate you everything   within the realm of official duties as if you are a robot because it breeds resentment and discord. It is even worse when you are compelled to do things not related to job beyond your work hours or when a leader extorts you money for something without even telling you the reason why.

This is abuse of power and it will remain to be so for as long as we keep quiet for it.

On the positive note,  some would testify that not all dictatorships are bad. Look at Lee Kuan Yew’s iron-hand rule in Singapore. It is an epitome of dictatorship gone beneficial, catapulting the country into first world community. The imposition of discipline and rule of law in this police state does not run counter to the aspiration of people to live in a progressive state. We have democracy, unfortunately the rule of law  is something left to be desired, either by ignorance or by impunity. The result is a country that stays to be in the developing category for a very long time. Some forms of dictatorship may be good for us to set the direction of the nation.

But when is dictatorship dangerous? When it wields power with impunity; when it promotes human rights violations, and; when it treats people as properties.  

Given its excesses, our laws explicitly protect us against abuse of authority.

The Department of Education is explicitly governed by democratic principles in decision-making. Leaders from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy are guided by  RA 9155 or the Governance in Basic Education Act of 2001.

To wit:

“Section 5. Principles of Shared Governance. – (a) Shared governance is a principle which recognizes that every unit in the education bureaucracy has a particular role, task and responsibility inherent in the office and for which it is principally accountable for outcomes;

(b) The process of democratic consultation shall be observed in the decision-making process at appropriate levels. Feedback mechanisms shall be established to ensure coordination and open communication of the central office with the regional, division and school levels;

(c) The principles of accountability and transparency shall be operationalized in the performance of functions and responsibilities at all levels;”

Shared governance through democratic consultations are the key words. Unfortunately, it is hardly observed in not a few government school organizations. In most public schools, the words of the principals are law even if it runs counter to the principle of governance. They made decisions inside their air conditioned room then force them into their subordinates not to be questioned. If you go against the grain and question the process, you will be treated as a pariah and your words just fell on deaf ears.

Or worse, right trembles against might.

One does something under duress, not at gun point, but at the pressure that comes from intimidation and abuse of power.

This is an epitome of a leader that practices power without discretion. He thinks he can do anything he wants and expects a hundred percent submission even if what he wants does not define the job his subordinate swore to uphold. He does not want your permission; he just wants you to do as told which leads me to think of a hold upper only it is not the knife that dangles upon your neck but his power used to intimidate co-workers.

I picture some dark kingdoms in the Dark Ages where the rulers terrorize their constituents wielding power over life and death.

What causes the prevalence of abuse? One likely answer is ignorance of the law.

Article III of the 1987 Constitution states the basic rights inherent to every Filipino in consonance with the democratic ideals of justice, equality and freedom.  Being educated, one has the responsibility for himself to familiarize with these provisions that embody all the good things that he lives for and practice them with his fellowmen as well. The problem lies when the supposed to be educator forgets what he stands for in the society and starts to act as dictator and subsequently demands absolute acquiescence from all the people around them to the detriment of all those who are weak and voiceless.

Another is the failure of the rule of law.

Even if we realize the abuses and call the attention of the proper authorities, there is failure to apply the law to the letter. In short, nothing or nobody has been punished seriously and so the practice of abuses perpetuate until the community accepts the wrong doings as the standard rule.

A case in point is when the superior collects money or things the subordinates own against their will on the basis that it will be used for the good of others and nobody refuses or questions for fear of intimidation, being ostracized, or worse insubordination, that practice will become a norm. The cycle of abuse repeats over and over again. When the employee who was abused becomes the boss, he would become the abuser, thinking it is right because it is the norm.

So, where do we go from here?

First, stop the abuse right on the spot.

Call the attention of your boss that it is not the right thing to do. Tell him in a respectful manner that doing so would have certain consequences. That collecting money against your will would mean extortion or even oppression if he abuses his power. It  would mean losing his job.

Second, if the first doesn’t work, then file a complaint to the right authorities.

If upon your advice, the boss still pushed through with his unlawful acts, then let him suffer the consequences of his actions. At least you had given him an opportunity to stop. The main reason why abuses continue unabashedly inside the workplace is that nobody has the courage to complain and let these people be punished appropriately.

The next time somebody including your boss forces you to pay or buy  something from him against your will or when the group where you belong collected contribution and you refused and then you found out, the money was deducted from your salary without your knowledge, then a mere talk and a reminder that it is wrong and illegal would suffice provided he would return your money. However, should he refuse to accept his wrongdoing, then he/she should be charged with extortion given the prima facie evidence.

The actions of these leaders have great ramifications to all the stakeholders in the organizations, therefore any wrongdoing should be checked immediately on the premise that it affects great number of people, more so in the case of schools, because at the bottom are our youth who we influence in our actions. We sure want them to be  responsible and accountable future citizens of this country.

 Finally, not condoning any wrongdoing would send the message to everybody that in school or in anywhere, crime does not pay. That however good the objective is, the end does not justify the means.

Now, that’s rule of law.

By: Luz H. Buensuceso Teacher III-BNHS