Tena, Anna Katrina C.
April 27, 2024
BA Political Science 4-2 Ethics and Accountability in Public Service
Ethics and Accountability in Public Service Outline
Topics Research
Article XI of the 1987 The 1987 Philippine Constitution outlines the standards for ethical and
Philippine Constitution - accountable conduct in the public sector. Article IX, Section states public office
Accountability of Public is a public trust. The public office must at all times be accountable to the
Officers people. This constitutional provision necessitates that every public official and
employee adhere to these principles throughout their service in government
Topics discussed: (Aranas, 2016). A public servant according to (Brillantes & Fernandez, 2011)
must have a high sense of duty that is supposed to go beyond personal gain. It
➢ Article XI Definition is the view of (Funnel,et al., 2009) however that at the present, the public sector
and Significance as is no longer an avenue for selfless initiatives. The above provision written in the
per the Constitution Constitution outlines its utmost importance for the public officers to embody with
➢ The role of civil them the responsibility and ethical obligation that is carried in the line of duty.
society to call for Misusing and abusing power constitutes a betrayal of trust towards the citizens
accountability in (Brillantes & Fernandez, 2011).
public service.
➢ The role of trust in In the Philippines, the role of civil society is invaluable in terms of calling for
curbing graft and government accountability and responsiveness. Civil society tends to voice
corruption. greater distrust in governments lacking transparency and accountability
➢ Definition of concepts (Brillantes & Fernandez, 2011). Trust plays an important role in governance,
surrounding the particularly in curbing graft and corruption and in the practice of good
active call for governance. Trust as defined by (Houston and Harding, 2013) is the
accountability in “willingness to rely on others to act on our behalf based on the belief that they
public service. possess the capacity to make effective decisions and take our interests into
account”. Jameel, et al., (2019) mentioned that good governance must be
attained at all times to achieve maximum level of public trust.
Finally, it is imperative to discuss the concepts surrounding the active call for
accountability in the public office. Kaufmann, et al., (2010) provides for the
understanding of governance being “a custom, practice, values, and
organizations through which power in a state is executed involving the
government selection procedure, replacement of government and
accountability, honor and rights for citizens and ability of the state to devise and
employ its policies.” Meanwhile, good governance features elements like
responsiveness, accountability and transparency (Qudrat‐I Elahi, 2009). Lastly,
accountability is the level to which the government is answerable for its
decisions and actions to the public, and transparency is the clarity and
accessibility of informations laid out to the public from the government
(Shafritz,et al., 2016; Mimicopoulos,et al., 2007).
R.A. 3019 - Anti-Graft According to the Transparency Index Report on Southeast Asia, Malaysia
and Corruption Practices continues its best practices leading the region in anti-corruption initiatives.
Act Unfortunately for the country and Thailand, both ranked in the lower end of the
spectrum. The Philippines ranks 115 out of 180 countries in the world for
Topics Discussed: Corruption Perceptions Index. Historical corrupt practices in the Philippines can
be attributed to its deeply entrenched colonial past (Endriga, 1979). The country
➢ The Philippines’ has been suffering the ill-effects of the primordial concern of corruption. In
Rank in the contemporary times however, graft and corrupt practices by local government
Transparency Index officials often involve the collaboration of other officials and agencies (Laut, et
Report on Southeast al., 2013).
Asia for
anti-corruption Section 1, the Statement Policy of R.A. 3019 reads “It is the policy of the
initiatives Philippine Government, in line with the principle that a public office is a public
➢ Historical roots of trust, to repress certain acts of public officers and private persons alike which
corrupt practices in constitute graft or corrupt practices or which may lead thereto,” such statement
the Philippines encapsulates the essence of the legislation. A blanket legislation to guide public
➢ R.A. 3019 Definition officials in their practices in the public office. Klitgaard, et al., (2000) provides for
and Significance the definition of corruption being the misuse and abuse of public office for
➢ Rampant display of private gain. According to the United Nations Convention against Corruption,
corrupt practices and the leading forms of corruption in the Philippines are bribery, kickbacks, abuse
its leading forms in of function, influence peddling, and illicit enrichment. The concept of corruption
the Philippines in the Philippines can be examined in two types: “corruption in action” and
“corruption inaction.” Corruption is not solely defined by the commission of
unlawful acts but also encompasses neglect of duty and failure to fulfill one's
sworn obligations to the public (Carandang & Balboa-Cahig, 2018).
R.A. 6713 - Code of Similarly, adherent to the principle public office is a public trust, the government
Conduct and Ethical aims to curb acts of graft and corrupt practices by both public officials and
Standards for Public private individuals. Therefore, R.A. 6713 provides that the government office
Officials and Employees must employ those that are the most qualified. The purpose of this act is to
safeguard government integrity and promote the recruitment and retention of
Topics Discussed: qualified personnel by imposing restrictions on conflicts of interest without
impeding public service. Likewise, this code intends to serve as both a guideline
➢ Definition and for the ethical conduct of public servants and a basis for disciplining those who
purpose of R.A. 6713 breach its provisions (Aranas, 2016).
➢ The list of norms of
conduct to follow In 1989, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act No. 6713, which
according to R.A. established the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
6713 Employees. This legislation meticulously outlines the ethical guidelines and
➢ Important concepts prohibitions applicable to government officials and employees both within and
derived from R.A. outside the confines of their professional environments. The code serves as a
6713 foundational framework aimed at combating graft and corruption within the
Philippine public sector.This legislation emerged in the wake of the People
Power Revolution, reflecting the nation's demand for a return to transparent and
accountable governance. These guidelines are encapsulated within the eight
fundamental norms of conduct that all government officials and employees are
required to adhere to (Aranas, 2016). The following are the norms of conduct:
● Commitment to public interest
● Professionalism
● Justness and sincerity
● Political neutrality
● Responsiveness to the public
● Nationalism and patriotism
● Commitment to democracy
● Simple living
The enactment of R.A. 6713 signaled the government's commitment to
restoring democratic values by emphasizing transparency and accountability in
public service. It embodies the state's policy to uphold high ethical standards in
public service, mandating that public officials and employees remain
accountable to the citizenry. These individuals are expected to fulfill their duties
with the highest level of responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty.
Furthermore, they are called upon to demonstrate patriotism and justice, lead
modest lifestyles, and prioritize public interest over personal gain. This
commitment to ethical governance is not only encapsulated in R.A. 6713 but is
also echoed in Article XI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, underscoring the
constitutional imperative to promote integrity and excellence in public service.
R.A. 7080 - An Act In the Philippine Journal of Third World Studies in the Philippine Journal of the
Defining and Penalizing University of the Philippines, they mentioned that plunder is a word and crime
the Crime of Plunder recently added into the Filipinos’ consciousness, and it took the country half a
trillion of money to consider its significance. In discussing the legislature to curb
Topics Discussed: plunder, one must talk briefly about the landmark case for plunder and
corruption in the country, the Marcos administration. While scholars have a
➢ Landmark Cases common consensus that corruption has been an active agent in the lives of
of Plunder in the Philippines society, (Aquino, 1999) writes it is in this administration that
Philippines corruption “reached an epidemic and flagrant proportions; and have displayed a
➢ Historical certain pathological dimension." According to Weber, there must be a clear
Background of distinction between “official” and “private” spheres, as Hutchcroft, (1991) would
the Philippines advise weak understanding on its distinction leaves an ample opportunity for
with the Crime of plunder of the state.
PLunder
➢ Definition of To discuss the legislation itself, the crime of Plunder, as culled from R.A. 7080,
PLunder has the following elements: (a) that the offender is a public officer, who acts by
according to R.A. himself or in connivance with members of his family, relatives by affinity or
7080. consanguinity, business associates, subordinates or other persons; (b) that he
amasses, accumulates or acquires ill-gotten wealth through a combination or
series of overt or criminal acts described in Section 1 (d) 51 ; and (c) that the
aggregate amount or total value of the ill-gotten wealth amassed, accumulated,
or acquired is at least P50 Million Pesos.
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