SC Justice Leonen to public servants: 'Strive for excellence in work, make gov't ideal to people'

Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen has exhorted government officials and employees “to always strive for excellence in the performance of their work, aim to deliver the best service they can, and work towards making the government ideal to our people.”

Justice Leonen addressed the officials and employees of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) during its 123rd anniversary celebration last Sept. 11 held at the agency’s central office in Quezon City.

He emphasized: “Being a lawyer or public servant in this country means that we are conscious of the social context we presently live in. It requires that we serve to reduce the suffering of our people.”

He then urged all public servants to “use your positions to be a louder voice of the oppressed and a more passionate advocate, not just of the rule of law but the rule of justice.”

But he said that achieving excellence is by no means an easy feat, and that it requires exerting “incremental efforts and perseverance and embracing resilience.”

He pointed out that “the struggle for excellence is not the same for everyone, highlighting the need to pay more attention to the marginalized” so that “those who have less in life should be attended more by those in public service.”