Chapter 10 Summary: COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE

CHAPTER 10:
COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC AND
ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
#1.DaniloNopal
“TransparencyInternational”
Transparency International (TI) is a global coalition against corruption. It is an
international organization dedicated to documenting and tracing levels of government corruption.
Table 16. 2008 CPI in Some South East Asian Countries by Transparency International
Country
Rank
Some SEA Countries 2008 CPI Survey
Used*
Confidence
Rating
4 Singapore 9.2 9 9.0-9.3
47 Malaysia 5.1 9 4.5-5.7
80 Thailand 3.5 9 3.0-3.9
121 Vietnam 2.7 9 2.4-3.1
126 Indonesia 2.6 10 2.3-2.9
141 Philippines 2.3 9 2.1-2.5
145 East Timor 2.2 4 1.8-2.5
151 Laos 2.0 6 1.6-2.3
166 Cambodia 1.8 7 1.7-1.9
178 Myanmar 1.3 4 1.0-1,5
*Survey Used” Refersto the number of surveysthat wasused to assessa country’s performance.
17 surveyswere used and at least three surveys were required for a country to be included in the
Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
**Corruption 0 to 10: A score of “10” means politics is totally clean while a score of “0” means
that it is totally corrupt.
As stated, Transparency International ranked Philippines as the 141st most corrupt
government in the world in 2008. Corruption in the country is very high; politics is very
dishonest as compared to other neighboring Southeast Asian states. On the contrary,
Transparency International also identified 10 of the most clean and honest states in the world as
shown in the table.

Table 17. 2008 Transparency International’s Most Clean and Honest Government and Politics
Country
Rank
Most Clean and
Honest Countries
2008 CPI Survey
Used
Confidence
Rating
1 Denmark 9.3 6 9.1-9.4
1 New Zealand 9.3 6 9.2-9.5
1 Sweden 9.3 6 9.2-9.4
4 Singapore 9.2 9 9.0-9.3
5 Finland 9.0 6 8.4-9.4
5 Switzerland 9.0 6 8.7-9.2
7 Iceland 8.9 5 8.1-9.4
7 Netherlands 8.9 6 8.5-9.1
9 Australia 8.7 8 8.2-9.1
9 Canada 8.7 6 8.4-9.1
#2. Angelica Cases
“Corruption Everywhere”
Corruption means that something has been changed so that it no longer meets its proper
purposes. In the Philippines particularly, corruption is understood as “the misuse of public power
for private profit.” In political democracy, our concern with corruption is with officials
performing their public tasks improperly in order to receive personal benefits.
Corruption exists not only in government bureaucracies; they do dwell in the private
sectors as well. But the question of corruption is more public in scope, involving government
officials and even employees alike. Corruption as a distortion to government efficiency and
accountability has been present since time immemorial, and it seems though there is not much
we can do about it.
The goals of efficiency and accountability have been sacrificed in favor of some
politicians. Corruption is not something society should tolerate. Nevertheless, corruption does
exist everywhere, it is worse in some places than on others so there are things we should do
about it, after all, widespread corruption breeds political instability.
“It is worth noting that corruption is not equally pervasive everywhere, and that should
give us some hope. If it varies, there must be reasons that cause it to be greater in one place than
another. Unfortunately, a number of these reasons do not offer much leverage. Societies
undergoing rapid change often appear susceptible to corruption, partly because norms of
behavior are in flux, so people do not have stable moral guides for behavior and partly because
there are so many opportunities for corruption in a situation of rapid economic change.”
-Shively (Political Analyst)

#3. Veronica Louise Lucero
“Ethics and Governance”
The integration of moral values and ethical standards in public administration is one
effective strategy of responsive and good governance in the midst dishonesty, corruption, and
mediocrity in the public service. Ethical values traits would ensure proper guidance among
government employees only if these moral recovery principles areenforceable in actions among
all public officials and employees, and punitive in character whenever violated, suppressed or
restricted personal advantage.
Ethics is gaining prominence in the discourse about governance today. There is a
perception that standards in public life are in decline. This raises questions about the costs of
misconduct on the part of those who have been entrusted with guarding public interests and
resources. These costs are losses in trust and confidence in public institutions and losses in
precious resources which were meant to support the economic and social development of nations
and peoples.
#4.Reynan Ola
“Building an Honest to Goodness CivilService”
Honesty is the best policy, so public servant must have the values of being an honest
person and they are expected to discharge his duties and responsibilities regard to the values of
accountability, honesty, transparency and neutrality.
As declared in the 1987 Philippine Constitution under Sec. 27, of Article II, provides a
leading declaration that the State shall maintain honesty and integrity in public service and take
positive effective measures against graft and corruption.
The civil servants are driven in public purpose, public interest and public service, so they
must not be selfish in their duties. However, in spite of all the efforts to keep the civil service
efficient, competent, accountable and professional, the civil service, together with officers and
employees remain politically vulnerable to graft and corrupt practices.
#5. Peter John Torado
“A Call for Work Ethic and Renewal”
Work ethic is a system of values in which central importance is ascribed to work or
purposeful activity and to qualities of character, believed to be promoted by work. For the
purpose of this chapter, work ethic refers to a set of values based on the moral virtues in public
service like honesty, accountability and professionalism.
Ethical behavior for civil servants is enshrined in numerous laws and regulations in the
Philippines. The Philippine Constitution for one sets, the legal framework of accountability of
public officials under Article XI, which is primarily predicated on the declaration that “public
official is a public trust.”

There is also the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (RA 6713) in 1989 for all
government officials and employees; the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act of 1960
(RA 3019); the Administrative Code of 1987; Art. 212 (Section on Bribery) of the Revised
penal Law; the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 (RA 9485) and even the Moral Recovery
Program.
There are also three constitutional Oversight Bodies: the Office of the Ombudsman, the
Commission on Audit, and the Civil Service Commission.
The issue of graft and corruption has been a topmost concern perhaps of all top
government administrators in the country then and now. But, it appears that institutional efforts
failed to address corruption in government offices, and yet it became bigger and wider since even
those in top-level management are implicated.
#6.Zildjian Kwan
“A Case of Corruption: The People’s Perception”
Main Forms of Corruption:
 General bribery or gift-giving
 Diversion of budget away from projects
 No transparency in public bidding
 Overpricing procurement
 Doing substandard projects
 Underreporting of tax collection
 Tax and tariff evasion
 Pork barrel fund
 Cronyism
Most Number of Corruption Complaints Received by the Office of the Ombudsman in this order:
1. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
2. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
3. Department of Education (DepED)
4. Bureau of Customs (BOC)/ Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)
5. National Irrigation Administration (NIA)
6. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
7. Department of Health (DOH)
8. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
9. National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR)
10. Bureau of Immigration (BOI)
Three notable structural sources of corruption were identified:
1. That candidates must finance their own electoral campaigns, owing a debt of gratitude to
many sponsors who call in favors when the candidates are elected
2. The incredibly poor compensation and reward system for civil servants
3. The poor enforcement of anti-corruption laws in the Philippines that renders corruption a
low risk, high reward activity.

Other causes of corruption in the Philippines are:
a. Wide discretion of bureaucrats
b. Burdensome regulations and transactions systems
c. Weak control mechanisms
d. Information asymmetry between the rich and the poor
e. Weak public vigilance
f. Elements of Filipino political culture
#7.AilynCatolico
“The Culture of Corruption”
Corruption means a “failure to carry out proper or public responsibilities because of the
pursuit of personal gain.” In many countries, graft and corruption has indeed become a culture or
a way of life. The culture of graft and corruption is an administrative issue since time,
particularly in underdeveloped societies, and the Philippines is privy to this. In most cases,
corruption has a material or narrowly financial character, its most particular political
manifestation is bribery or sleaze. Regarding politics, corruption is understood with officials
performing their public tasks improperly in order to receive individual repayment.
Furthermore, studies of corruption in the Philippines point to these adversarial effects
which include, but not limited to:
1. Wastage of public resources as when infrastructure projects are poor; and substandard
and do not last their projected useful lifetime;
2. Low revenue collection, as when bribes are paid in lieu of taxes and charges in revenue
collecting agencies;
3. Other socially unfeasible behavior such as tax evasion and smuggling;
4. Cronyism, the highest form of corruption expressed in cartels and monopolies that reduce
competitiveness in industry;
5. Increase in the cost of doing business in the country; and
6. Waste in the resources for development, which postpones the poor Filipino escape from
poverty.
#8. Jayson Egana
“Public Office is a Public Trust”
Art. XI Sec. I of the 1987 constitution of the Philippines, states the accountability of
public officials, in the wise: "Public Office is a Public Trust. Public officers and employees must
at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty,
and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives."
A public office has the following characteristics:
a. It is a public trust
b. It is not vested right
c. It is not a property
d. It cannot be inherited

A public office is the right, authority, and duty created and conferred by law, by which,
for a given period, either fixed by law or enduring at the pleasure of the creating power to be
exercised by him for the benefit of the public.
#9.ConradoSaugon
“Public Officers and Employees in the Civil Service”
As a normative value, civil servants should be professional, competent, efficient and
responsive to the political and top administrators, committed to implement policies and
programs, honest, and accountable to the people they should serve. The civil service or bureau
curacy is a major institution in democratic administration.
A public officer shall not be liable by way of moral and exemplary damages or acts done
in the performance of official duties, unless there is a clear showing of bad faith, malice or gross
negligence.
Among rights of civil service officials and employees in the Philippines include:
In spite of the political values imposed upon them, the public officials and employees of the
civil service shall likewise enjoy the following rights:
1. They have the right to be protected from their conditions of work and reassured of living
ages.
2. They have the right to make organizations or associations’ among themselves but are
prohibited to conduct strikes or rallies;
3. No officer or employee of the civil service shall be dismissed except for a cause.
4. They have the right to be paid regularly when they retired from service and to receive
pensions and gratuities by law
5. They have the right to overtime and holidays pays, including sick leave/ vacation leave
with pay, maternity benefit allowances, and other benefits.
#10.DaniloNopal
“Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices”
1. Persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting
a violation of rules and regulations or an offense in connection with official duties or
allowing himself to be persuaded, induced or influenced to commit such violation or
offense;
2. Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift for himself or for any other person
in connection with any contract between the government and other party;
3. Accepting or having any member of his family accept employee in a private enterprise
which has pending official business with him;
4. Causing and undue injury to any party, including the government or giving any private
party any unwarranted benefits in the discharge of his official functions;
5. Neglecting or refusing without sufficient justification to act within a reasonable time on
any matter pending before him;

6. Entering, or behalf of the government, into any contract that is grossly disadvantageous
to the government;
7. Directly or indirectly having financial interest in any business or contract or in
connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity;
8. Directly or indirectly becoming interested for personal gain in any transaction or act
requiring the approval of the board, panel or group of which he is a part;
9. Knowingly approving or granting any license, permit in favor of any person not qualified;
10. Divulging valuable information of a confidential character.
#11.AilynCatolico
“BureaucracyandAccountability”
Bureaucracy- basically means rule by office.
Bureaucracy refers to: All the rules and procedures followed by government departments and
similar organizations.
Accountability is a central problem for governments which are or claim to be democratic. The
activities of civil servants and public agencies must follow the will of the people to whom they
are ultimately responsible. The publicness of their employment and goals thus prescribes their
behavior and circumscribes their choices.
Two Forms of Accountability:
Internal Control in the bureaucratic accountability may take the form of ministerial direction,
formal regulation, competition between departments and professional standards.
External Control in the bureaucratic accountability may be in the form of criticisms from the
mass media, judicial branch or legislative department and/or the pressures from the Ombudsman.
Types of Accountability:
 Traditional Accountabilityis a responsibility of the bureaucrat who has been given the
authority to discharge a particular function as an expression of hierarchy-ordered legal
responsibilities.
 Managerial Accountabilityconcerns itself with efficiency and economy in the use of
public funds, property, manpower and other resources.
 Program Accountability is concerned with the results of government operations.
 Process Accountability emphasizes on procedures and methods of operation and focuses
on the black box inside systems which transforms inputs (the concern of traditional and
managerial accountability) to the outputs (the concern of program accountability).

#12.Zildjian Kwan
“Code of Conduct and EthicalStandards for Public Officials”
In 1989, the Philippine legislature passed RA 6713, a law embodying the Code of
Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. According to a Civil
Service Commission Report on Ethics and Accountability in 2000, it is said that the Code spells
out in fine details the do’s and don’ts for government officials and employees in and out of the
workplace. These do’s and don’ts are encapsulated in the eight norms of conduct to be observed
by all government officials and employees.
Figure 20. Eight Norms of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards
#13.ConradoSaugon
“Basis forDisciplinary Action”
Under the Civil Service Law, the following acts shall constitute grounds for disciplinary
measures, suspension, or removal from work of any public officer or employee. This is also
reinforced under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Civil Service Officers and
Employees and the Moral Recovery Program and lists the following traits.
1. Dishonest
2. Oppression
3. Neglect of duty
4. Misconduct
5. Disgrace and immoral act
6. Being notoriously undesirable
7. Discourtesy in the course of official duties
8. Inefficiency in the performance of official duties
9. Bribery or other acts punishable under anti-graft laws
10. Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude
11. Improper or unauthorized solicitation of contributions from subordinate employees
12. Falsification of official documents
13. Frequent unauthorized absences or tardiness
Code of Ethics
Commitment to
Public Interest
Professionalism
Justness and
Sincerity
Responsiveness
to the Public
Nationalismand
Patriotism
Commitment to
Democracy
Simple Living

14. Habitual drunkenness
15. Refusal to perform official duties
16. Disgraceful, immoral or dishonest conduct
17. Physical or mental incapacity or disability due to immoral or vicious habits
18. Borrowing money by superior officers from subordinates
19. Willful failure to pay just debts
20. Nepotism and many more..
#14. Angelica Cases
“A Political Commitment”
The legal infrastructure that prescribes ethical conduct of public servants is reinforced by
political commitment. This political commitment, while difficult to benchmark, has been
demonstrated by some policy pronouncements. Quite significant is the 10-point action agenda of
the government and the Medium Term Development Plan (2000-2004) which embody the
framework for the country’s socio-economic development.
The agenda and the MTDP place the implementation of a sustained training and
orientation program on Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Laws and on the Ethical Standards
Act of Public Officials and Employees among the administration’s priorities to reduce graft and
corruption and exact high standards of ethics in government.
#15. Peter John Torado
“The Role of the Ombudsman”
As Watchdog
> it exercises oversights role by monitoring all the general and specific performance of
government officials and employees in order that the law may be administered and executed
justly, fairly and equality for all. It also ensures that prompt efficient and steady flow of service
is accorded to the citizens.
As Mobilizer
> it effectively enlists broad supports of multi-sectorial stakeholders by establishing a
continuing partnership with other governmental agencies, a civil society, non- governmental
organization, business, academe, youth, and other major sectors of society for a nationwide
campaign for integrity in public service the propagation of sound Filipino values of honesty,
discipline, respect for elders and authority, as well as promotion of a transparent, accountable
and effective governance.

As Official critics
> it initiates the conduct of review of the policies systems, procedures and practices in the
performance of the critical functions of specific government agencies and makes
recommendations for a systematic operation of the government machinery free from bureaucratic
inconveniences and for adoption of strategies to address corruption vulnerabilities in their
organization.
As Dispenserof justice
>It is administratively sanctions erring government officials and employees and criminal
charges and prosecutes then including private persons founds to have conspired with them.
The Composition of Ombudsman shall be:
a. The Ombudsman
b. One overall deputy
c. One deputy for Luzon
d. One deputy for Visayas
e. One deputy for Mindanao
f. A separate deputy for the Military Service
#16. Jayson Egana
“OversightBodies againstCorruption”
The 3 Constitutional Oversight Bodies
1. Office of the Ombudsman- is an ombudsman responsible for investigating and
prosecutingPhilippine government officials accused of crimes, especially graft and
corruption.
2. Civil Service Commission- is a government agency that is constituted by legislature to
regulate the employment and working conditions of civil servants, oversee hiring and
promotions, and promotes the values of the public service.
3. Commission on Audit - is an independent constitutional commission established by
the Constitution of the Philippines. It has the primary function to examine, audit and
settle all accounts and expenditures of the funds and properties of the Philippine
government.
#17.Reynan Ola
“Anti-Red Tape Act (RA 9485)”
RA 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act, is the newest legislation signed by
PGMA in June 2007 in an effort to ensure honesty and responsibility among public officials and
employees. It shall be maintained through measures that shall promote transparency with regard
to the manner of transacting with the public.
Moreover, RA 9485 likewise holds the heads of the agencies accountable to the public in
the delivery of fast, efficient, convenient and reliable services and these can be easily done as the
new Law requires the establishment of service standards or a Citizen’s Charter.

Any official or employee found guilty of violating the new Law’s provisions shall be
sanctioned with varying level of penalties depending on the nature of violation. Grave offenses,
on the other hand, like fixing or colluding with fixers will merit dismissal or and perpetual
disqualification from public office.
#18.DaniloNopal
“The Future of Corruption”
The government has continuing initiatives to come up with more responsive public
administration structures and processes are ongoing efforts to address the ever pervasive problem
of corruption. Corruption or the “misuse of public power for private profit” inhibits growth and
development, distorts access to services for poor communities, undermines public confidence in
the government’s will and capacity to serve the public, deters trade and investment, reduce
revenues, increases costs and propagates wasteful allocation and use of scare resources.
Various sectors of the society are doing their best to combat corruption, enhance
government efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. It is noteworthy to state that institutions
have been set up and several laws were enacted to fight against graft and corruption.
Coping with corruption in government includes a number of practical suggestions like
public education program; acting as watchdogs; encouraging more the civil society for plunder
and corruption watch; living by good examples by highly public officials; changing incentive
programs; professionalizing the bureaucracy.
International pressure can also help. Recently, a new international Transparency
International was founded to help states around the world reduce corruption in their
governments.
#19. Veronica Louise Lucero
“Operationalthrust of ethics and accountability”
Without a strand of doubt, public officials become corrupt for personal enrichment.
The material or physical gains one reaps from corruption is the motivation why this culture exists
or will continue to persist particularly among underdeveloped countries.
Corrupt officials often have strong, domineering personalities; they are popular and
are viewed by colleagues as effective, thereby creating for themselves "space to maneuver";
they slowly “slide down toward corruption” and are unlikely to view themselves as corrupt;
and they “do not limit their corruption to one incident” but instead maintain “a long
institutionalized relationship" with their corruptors.
An agency's culture can encourage corruption, notably when “supervision of corrupt
official is not strong management has not promoted a clear integrity policy” and “loyalty
and solidarity” among colleagues both inside and outside the agency deter reporting of corrupt
activities.

#20.Zildjian Kwan
“Levels of Ethics”
1. Personal Morality- is the basic sense of right and wrong. This is a function of our post
and is dependent on factors such as parental influences, religious beliefs, cultural and
social norms.
2. Professional Ethics – public administrators increasingly recognize a set of professional
norms and rules that obligate them to act in a certain professional way.
3. Ethics in Organization – every organization has an environment or culture that includes
both formal and informal rules of ethical conduct
4. Social Ethics – the requirements of social ethics oblige members of a given society to act
in ways that both protect individuals and further the progress of the group as a whole.
#21.AilynCatolico
“Towards Ethicaland Accountable Governance”
The public education program against corruption places extra premium on work ethic and
accountability for government officials and employees in the bureaucracy. The need for moral
recovery is an utmost importance in redefining the political culture of the leaders and the public
towards more responsive, professional and competent public administration.
The government though has been truly responsive to fighting against graft and corruption
but officers and employees, whether elected or selected, must learn to institutionalize the laws
against corruption particularly the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards. If public servants
learned to value these pertinent laws and regulations and operationalized the requirements set by
laws on how public service should be delivered will be marked with good governance instead.
#Reflection/ Conclusion:
Ethics
Personal
Morality
Professional
Ethics
Ethics in
Organization
Social Ethics

Chapter 10 Summary: COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Chapter 10 Summary: COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE (20)

More from Cristy Melloso (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Chapter 10 Summary: COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE