I.

BASIC CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLE OF ETHICS

ETHICS
1.1 Definition of Ethics
ORIGIN OF ETHICS

It is derived from the Latin word “Ethicus” and the Greek word “Ethicos”.

ETHICS from the Greek word Ethicos/Ethikos or Ethos means customs or

habits

ETHICS

o A moral philosophy (Moral from MORES means customs or habit)

o Customs or habits from society
o Moral justification for moral judgment
o Studies what is morally right/wrong

WELL KNOWN FIGURES IN ETHICS

GREEK PHILOSOPHERS MODERN INFLUENCERS

Plato Immanuel Kant

Socrates John Stuart Mill and others
Aristotle

WHAT IS ETHICS?

1. It is the rational reflection of what is right and wrong, just or unjust, good
or bad with respect to human behavior.

2. It refers to the evaluation of moral values, principles, and standard of

human conduct and its application in daily life to determine acceptable
human behavior.

3. Are practical science and morality of human action and is the scientific
inquiry into the principles of morality on the science of human acts with
respect to what is right or wrong.
FIVE PERIODS OF HISTORY (ETHICS)

1. CLASSICAL PERIOD (500 BC TO 500 AD)

o It is curiosity-driven which causes a rapid change in Greek
Society from agrarian to commercial and industrial
development; Compendium of Western and Non-Western
Systems in a multi-cultural toward rationalism or respect for
evidence in an act of humanism; Interest in the Nature and
Nature of Man.
2. MIDDLE AGES (Medieval Period)
o study of continuity because many philosophers were
steeped in the classical period
Discontinuity – it is because religion had come into play in
their ethics and theology. Thomas Aquinas (Christianity)
3. EARLY MODERN PERIOD
o a shift from supernatural to natural temporal (worldly/
materialistic) or secular(no religious/spiritual basis)
o An attempt to balance the supernatural with the temporal
o The rise of modern science as physics
o The changes brought about the Industrial and Social
Revolution
TH
4. 19 CENTURY (January 1801 to December 1900)
o Emergence of utilitarianism
o Emergence of Scientific Theory
o The Individual vs. the State
Skepticism – a theory that certain knowledge is impossible
Irrationalism – contradicts rational principles (reject logic).
o Instincts and feelings are superior to reason.
5. CONTEMPORARY PERIOD – philosophers had a diversity of trends in
world beliefs.
Logical Positivism: all views must be verifiable through
experiment and observation
Existentialism: Man is a free human being; a responsible
agent to determine their own acts of will
PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS – Truthfulness , Honesty, Loyalty, Respect, Integrity

FOUR LEVELS OF ETHICS

1. PERSONAL MORALITY – it is the basic concept of what is right or wrong. It

is the influence from parents, religious beliefs, environment (factors that
affect personal morality) that molds our character; Implied indoctrination.

2. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS – principles that govern the behavior of a person

or group in a business/profession environment. It is because human beings
are unsatiable (unsatisfied) animals.

3. ORGANIZATION ETHICS – principles or values of an organization to its

employees/business ethics composed of values, principles

4. SOCIAL ETHICS – it is how you relate to your friends or peers/ oblige

members of the society to act in ways that both protect individuals and
society.

ETHICS AND CULTURE

O It suggests that there is one right way to behave.

O Cultural context determines ethical behavior
O No universal cultural standard to measure culture and cultural
values and beliefs must be measured in one’s cultural beliefs.

CULTURAL RELATIVISM

O No culture’s ethics are superior.

O The values and practices of the moral self, determine what is right
or wrong. Ex. When in Rome, do all the Romans do.

MORAL ABSOLUTIVISM

O Certain absolute truths apply everywhere

O Universal values transcend cultures in defying what is right or
wrong.
O Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do at you.
ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS AND PRINCIPLE

1. BENEFICENCE – act of charity, mercy, and kindness; doing good to

others; helping others; obligation to act in the intent of others;
sacrifice
2. NONMALIFICENCE – do not cause harm or inflict pain others ex.
doctors cannot harm their patient
3. AUTONOMY – self-rule of being independent; can stand on your
own
4. JUSTICE – It is the fairness and just. There will be equacy in you or
equitable distribution of (justice)
5. FIDELITY – keeping promise or promises to someone else ; truthful
(tapat); committed; confidentiality

MORALS
It pertains to the character and behavior from the point of view of what is
right and wrong greater than human conduct itself.
MORALITY
- It is a quality which makes an act good or bad, good or evil and right
or wrong.

THREE DISTINCTIONS OF MORALITY

1. MORAL – good , right

2. IMMORAL – bad , wrong
3. AMORAL- neither good nor bad

MORAL REASONING

O It is the reason for various ethical practices.

1. INDIVIDUAL VIEW – it is the reasoning of self-interest.
2. UTILITARIAN VIEW – encourage actions to ensure that the behaviors
do the greatest happiness or the good for the most people.
3. JUSTICE VIEW - behavior should be fair (fairness)
4. MORAL RIGHT VIEW – behavior maintains the fundamental of all
human beings.
 ETHICS AND MORALS DISTINGUISHED
Similarities Dissimilarities
- It both relates to what is right and ETHICS refers to the rules practiced
wrong. that may be guided by affirmed
- It is both may be used sources like a code of conduct.
interchangeably. MORALS are the own individual
principles as Right and wrong and
Application of ethics

APPLICATION OF ETHICS
Ethics guide a person's judgment covering the morality of human acts.
ETHICS = determination ; MORALITY = quality

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARD

UNDERSTANDING ETHICS

MORALITY AND HUMAN ACT

- It refers to the goodness and the badness, the rightness, and the
wrongness of human acts.

FOUR DISCIPLINE IN PHILOSOPHY

1. Descriptive or Speculative
- It is the discipline in philosophy that deals with the fundamental
questions of what is the nature of reality. (Metaphysics)
2. Normative
- It is concerned with human value and how the individual acts, what
is good and what is bad.
3. Practical Philosophy
- It studies the rules of valid reasoning and argumentations.
4. Critical Philosophy
- It deals with the concept of knowledge, how we learn and what we
can know. (Critically analyzed/Critical Thinking)
 PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER
PERSONALITY
- It is the characteristics or patterns of changeable feelings, thoughts
and behaviors that make a person unique.
- It refers to the outside world character.

CHARACTER
- It deals with how people think and behave (related to issues of right
and wrong).
- It refers to the inside.

AREAS OF STUDY OF ETHICS

1. META-ETHICS – a branch of analytic philosophy that explores the

status, foundations, and scope of moral values, properties, and
words
2. APPLIED ETHICS – practical aspect of moral considerations. It refers
to the real world or setting.
3. NORMATIVE ETHICS – a branch of philosophy or ethics concerned
with the criterion of what is right or wrong.

ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

o It is the right or good in the context of governing moral code or

values.
o It is value-driven and varies across culture
 II. BASIS OF COMPARISON

VALUES

o It is the broad beliefs of what is appropriate.

o A principle or quality that is intrinsically desirable.
o Prioritizes individual given the element in his life career based on
ethical morality and integrity.
o It describes the qualitative behavior of a person

VALUES

o It is anything that a person considers important in life such as

material things, ideas and experiences.

SIX CORE MORAL VALUES

1. Love of God
2. Respect of authority
3. Selflessly love people
4. Chastity - respect the dignity and sexuality
5. Responsible dominion over material things
6. Truthfulness

SIX CORE WORK VALUES

1. Industriousness
2. Sense of responsibility
3. Order (Prioritize)
4. Collaboration
5. Determination
KINDS OF VALUES
1. Biological Values – necessity for survival; physiological needs of a
man
2. Psychological Values – necessary for emotional fulfillment
3. Intellectual Values – necessary for the fulfillment of the human
mind
4. Moral Values – necessary for the spiritual fulfillment of men

VIRTUE – a HABIT that inclines the person to act in a way that harmonizes
with his nature. A habit of doing good. It is the opposite of vice.

FOUR MORAL CARDINAL VIRTUES

1. PRUDENCE – govern to discipline yourself. Careful in making a decision

2. TEMPERANCE - thy to be moderate

3. FORTITUDE – PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, ENDURANCE

4. JUSTICE

DIVISION OF JUSTICE

• COMMUTATIVE - regulates the actions that involves the rights that

exist between one to another.
• DISTRIBUTIVE – regulates the actions that involves the rights that an
individual may have in society.
• LEGAL – regulates the actions of individuals for the common good.

OATH OF OFFICE

RA 11131 – an act regulating the practices of the Criminology Profession in

the Philippines.

OATH – Solemn Promise; giving the ceremonial and start of official

functions.
RIGHTS – It is anything that is owned or due.

UNIVERSAL DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (UN)

ART. 1 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

ART. 18 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, consciousness, and

religion.

ART. 19 has the right to freedom of opinion and expression

ART. 23 has the right to work, free choice of employment, and favorable
conditions of work

ART. 26 to education

HUMAN RIGHT

o Supreme Rights – it is the highest form of rights

o Inherent Rights (Natural) – it is the rights that are entitled to a man
as a human.
o Inalienable Rights – it is the right that cannot be transferred,
borrowed or taken away like right to pursue life's basic necessities,
of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties and etc.

BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS

o Right to life – self defense

o Right to liberty – freedom (Kalayaan)
o Right to property

BILL OF RIGHTS (1987 Constitution)

o The Doctrine of Supremacy of the Constitution

o It holds the ultimate authority in a legal system, making it the
highest governing power.
o ARTICLE 3. SECTION 2. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty,
or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be
denied the equal protection of the laws
PHILOSOPHY THEORY

O A theory which put emphasis that a man is free.

4 MAIN BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

1. METAPHYSICS – Branch of philosophy which considers the physical

universe and nature of ultimate reality. What is real and what is the
origin of the world? (Reality – empirical validity and statistical data
from research. A contradiction of superstition and belief)
2. EPISTEMOLOGY – Branch of philosophy of how people come to
learn of what they know. Episteme, greek word meaning knowledge
or understanding.
It refers to the nature and origin of knowledge and truth.
4 MAIN BASES OF KNOWLEDGE
1. Divine relativism – infinite wisdom from God
2. Experience – learning
3. Logic and reason – justified
4. Intuition – guess or surmise
3. AXIOLOGY – a branch of philosophy that studies principles and
values.
2.1. Ethics – moral and values
2.2. Aesthetics – ex. What is beautiful
4. LOGIC – to organize reasoning; how to think
4.1. Deductive Reasoning – examines the general case or ideas to
specifically deduce a general set of principles and apply them to
specific cases.
4.2. Inductive Reasoning – taking specific examples to consider the
general principles that caused them

PRC (PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION)

o Any profession must be licensed through Board Exam

CRIMINOLOGIST

o Duty to protect and preserve human life, public order, and safety.
 III. BASIC CONCEPT OF POLICE ETHICS
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICS AND VALUES IN POLICE WORKS
3.1 Immense Power of the Police
3.2 Ethical Perspective
3.3 Social Contract – The center of the people/ In collaboration with people.
3.4 Police as a role model

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF POLICE (ETHICS AND ACTION)

1. RULES – the standard that individuals must accept rules and

regulations provided by the organization.
2. RESULTS – the utilitarian principles which emphasize the
consequences of our action
3. RELATIONSHIP - “Do not do unto others what you don’t want others
to do unto you- CONFUCIOUS”.

FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A POLICE OFFICER (What makes a police officer?)

1. Uniform
2. Power
3. Working Hour
4. Danger
5. Dirty Work

JAMES Q. WILSON 1908

o It is not money on organization that defines policeman’s job. It is the
job that defines the policeman.
JOHN MAANEN 1978
o The policing is more to a job that it is a way of life.

DUTY

o It is anything we are obliged to do or to omit. A moral obligation

incumbent upon a person of doing, omitting or avoiding. For every
right, there is a corresponding duty
DIVISION OF ETHICS

1. GENERAL ETHICS – it is the general principles of morality

2. SPECIAL ETHICS – it is the study and application of general principles
of morality which includes professional ethics

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

o It involves a group of moral code to which every profession must

subscribe. Ex. Code of Conduct of Criminologist
▪ Shall uphold the law, enforce the law with utmost
care and diligence and respect, protect the
constitution and the right of the people.

POLICE ETHICS – an example of professional ethics. It is a practical science

that treats the principles of human morality and duty as applied to law
enforcement. Ex. Criminologist = Law Enforcement (Practice of Profession)

PRINCIPLES GOVERNING PUBLIC SERVICE ETHICS

PUBLIC SERVICE – a service that is provided by the government to people

living in its jurisdiction. It focuses more on a professional service activity and
actively finding solutions to problems.

1. OBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT – an independent objective based on merits to

avoid biased

2. ACCOUNTABILITY – government officials are accountable to the people

3. DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP – respect the representative democracy

o Bureaucratic – free reign/laizes-fair

o Autocratic – situational leadership

4. RESPECTABILITY – duty bound to safeguard confidence and integrity to be

a role model, earn respect etc.
 POLICE FORCE AND POLICE SERVICE

POLICE SERVICE

o It is actively finding solutions to the problems and focuses more on

pro-service activity (Prevention & Intervention).

POLICE FORCE

o it tends to maintain control of the problem process and solutions;

the total manpower of the organization. (Goal – arrest & change)

ACTIONS

o the ability of an individual to obey instructions and report on how

and why a thing happened.

ACCOUNTABILITY

o for every responsibility, there is a corresponding accountability.

PUBLIC FORCE

o tends to maintain the central of the problem

PUBLIC SERVANTS

o they are government employees who must treat their office as

public trust using power and resources (legal) legitimate power.

CIVIL SOCIETY – lipunang maayos

MANAGEMENT – it is part of concern in an organization.

DOCTRINE – set of beliefs, stated principle of government policy. It is
derived from the Latin DOCTOR (to teach).

POLICE DOCTRINE

o The state possesses inherent with the inherent right to regulate in

the protection of public interest
o Authoritative principles prescribing the proper acquisition use and
employment of PNP human and material issues to achieve planned
objectives.

2 TYPES OF POLICE DOCTRINE

1. PRIMARY POLICE DOCTRINE

• Fundamental Police Doctrine- basic principles in planning,

organizing, and management of the PNP in pursuit to the overall
vision
• Operational Police Doctrine – principles and rules in planning,
organizing, directing, and employment of PNP forces in the
accomplishment of basic security in the maintenance of peace and
order
• Functional – provides guidelines for specialized activities of the PNP
such as personnel, intel, etc.

2. SECONDARY POLICE DOCTRINE

• Complimentary – formulated jointly; coordinating with each other

• Ethical – define the fundamental principle regarding the rules of
conduct, attitude, and behavior.
 BASIS OF POLICE ETHICAL DOCTRINE

DOCTRINE – in the PNP, all members shall abide by the ethical doctrine.

1. PNP Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Standard

2. The Philippine Constitution
3. Other relevant provisions of the Revised Penal Code
4. RA 6713 – an act establishing Ethical Code of Conduct
5. RA 3019 – Anti-Graft
6. RA 709 – crimes of Plunder
7. PD 46 – penalizing public officials to give gifts on any occasion
8. RA 6975 – PNP / DILG Penalty Law of 1991 as amended by RA 8551

IMPORTANCE OF RA 6713

o Shall remain true to the people

o Shall not discriminate people
o Ethical Code – set of rules that people follow

NORMS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS UNDER RA 6713

• Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to

people
• Shall discharge their duties with utmost competence and loyalty
• Act with patriotism and justice
• Lead modest lives
• Uphold public interest over personal interest

NORMS OF CONDUCT UNDER RA 6713

• Commitment to Public • Responsiveness to the

Service Public
• Professionalism • Nationalism & Patriotism
• Justness and Sincerity • Commitment to
• Political Neutrality Democracy
• Simple Living
STRENGTH OF THE POLICE OFFICER

• Spiritual Beliefs • Word of Honor

• Valor • Sense of Loyalty
• Patriotism • Duty
• Discipline • Camaraderie
• Courteous

WEAKNESS OF POLICE OFFICER

• Misplaced Loyalty • Preferential application of

• Cynicism – cynical law
(suspicious) • Police as untouchable
• Use of Force • Rewards
• Police as victims of • Due process
mentality • Lying & Deception

CHALLENGES OF FILIPINO POLICE

• Political Meddling • Problem on National

• Poor Salary Security Threat
• Unabated Corruption • Adaptation to
• Government Issues Stakeholder’s Command
• Different / Diverse Culture
& Traditions

COMMON VIOLATIONS

• Shall not solicit directly/indirectly any gifts

 POLICE ETHICS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARD

o It deals with professional conduct or ethical standards of

professionals.
o Under CHED program, not all passers go on to prefer police
occupation (Professional)
o CHED – It deals with professional conduct and ethical standards

PNP POLICIES

o Policies are rules for regulation.

1. All PNP member uniformed on non-uniformed shall execute a
pledge to adhere in a doctrine. To abide the doctrine.
2. Propagation and adherence to the doctrine.

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL. CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARD (COPCES)

o It shall be internalized within yourself. (Internalize – process within

our heart; Inculcate – attitude)

COMMITMENT OF POLICE

1. Uphold and adhere to the spirit doctrine. Uphold and abide to the
contents of PNP doctrine.
2. All PNP heads shall set an example or shall become a Role Model.
3. Priest and Minister shall set an example to the people.
4. All PNP shall take oath to the spirit of the Doctrine.

OATH OF COMMITMENT TO THE PNP

1. Upon entry to the PNP

2. Upon promotion to the next higher rank
3. Upon assumption of office or position
 CANONS OF POLICE ETHICS

1) Primordial Police Responsibility - the primary responsibility of the police

is crime prevention

2) Limitation of Police Authority - laws set limits to the power of the police;
police officers are not exempted from obeying the enforcing laws they are
enforcing.

3) Knowledge of the Law and other Responsibilities - police officers are

expected to know and understand the laws they are enforcing; police
officers must fully understand their duties and responsibilities as police
officers

4) Use of Proper Means to Obtain Proper Ends - police officers must only
employ legal methods in the conduct of their work

5) Cooperation with Public Officials - police officers must cooperate with

other public officials and government agencies

6) Proper Conduct and Behavior - police officers must always observe

proper conduct and behavior both in their personal and official life

7) Conduct towards the Community - police officers must never forget that
they are public servants

8) Conduct in Arresting Law Violators - police officers must always adhere

to the prescribed rules when effecting arrests of suspects

9) Firmness in Refusing Gifts - police officers must never ask for nor accept
gifts or special favors

10) Impartial Presentation of Evidence - police officers must be fair in

presenting evidence

11) Attitude towards Police Profession - police officers must have a high
regard for the police profession they are police officers and must be proud
that they are police officers; police officers must strive to improve their
knowledge and skills in order be the best police officers that they can be
 PROFESSIONAL POLICE PRINCIPLE

1) Prevention of Crime and Disorder - it is the primary objective of the

police to prevent crime

2) Cooperation of the Community - the police is dependent upon

community support

3) Unreasonable Force Reduces Community Cooperation - the use of

unreasonable force on the part of the police negatively affects the desire of
the people to cooperate with the police

4) Use of Reasonable Force when Persuasion is not Sufficient - the police

may only use force when dialogue is no longer effective and the degree of
force to be used must be reasonable

5) Impartial Enforcement of Laws - the police must be fair in enforcing the

laws

6) The Community are the Police - the police and the community are
dependent on each other and must work hand in hand to prevent crimes

7) Police should not Usurp Judicial Power - the police has no power or
authority to decide whether a suspect is guilty or innocent of a crime
because only the court has this power

8) Rules of Engagement Impartially Observed - the police must always

adhere to the prescribed procedures in the performance of their duty

9) Reduction of Crime and Disorder - the effectiveness of the police is

measured through the ability of the police to prevent crime

10) Police Discretion - the police must never abuse the police discretion
granted to them
 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

1. Promote observance of these standards including the dissemination of

information programs and workshops authorizing merit increases beyond
regular progression steps, to a limited number of employees recognized by
their office colleagues to be outstanding in their observance of ethical
standards; and

2. Continuing research and experimentation on measures which provide

positive motivation to public officials and employees in raising the general
level of observance of these standards.

DUTIES OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS & EMPLOYEES

1. Act promptly on letters and requests

2. Submit annual performance reports

3. Process documents and papers expeditiously

4. Act immediately on the public's personal transactions

5. Make documents accessible to the public

STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND NET WORTH (SALN)

- It shall contain a true and complete declaration of assets, liabilities

and net worth, including a disclosure of business interests and
financial connections of the declarant, his/her spouse and
unmarried children below eighteen (18) years of age living in his/her
household.
 ETHICS AND LAW

Ethics – (customary) internal thoughts and feelings

Law – (Social Conformity) external behaviours

CUSTOMARY ETHICS

o Code of Hammurabi (Mesopotamia) – practice of chivalry, high level

of Islamic order for the purpose of ethics to compliment to the law.
o Republic (Plato) – justice and order
o PD 1508 – barangay

DICTATE OF REASON

- It is the norms of morality which was in accordance to merit or

demerits of what we do.

MODIFIERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. IGNORANCE – lack of knowledge.

a. Invincible – sinasadya
b. Vincible – reasonable efforts but can be cured
2. PASSION – tendencies to act toward desirable objects; physic
responses from our mind (immoral/moral)
a. Positive Emotion – love, desire, delight, hope, bravery
b. Negative Emotion – hatred, anger, fear, despair, sadness
3. FEAR – disturbance of our mind when in face of danger or harm that
would result to anxiety.
4. VIOLENCE – same as negative emotions, a physical force that is
exerted to a person by another (to act against his will)
5. HABITS – it is done repeatedly.
a. Habit Forming – it is what we do everyday
 RIGHTS AND DUTIES

Duty – to do good and to avoid evil

Right – objectively or subjectively; within a person; whether his rights are

im/moral; use of rights

KINDS OF RIGHTS

1. NATURAL RIGHTS – it is inherent. It is based on natural law; nature

(born)
2. HUMAN RIGHTS – based on human positive laws that is enacted by
state or sector.
3. CIVIL RIGHTS – are those that are dependent upon the rules of
state.
4. ECCLESIASTICAL RIGHTS – based on religions; religious rights

MORAL PRECEPT

- It is driven by wanting to do good.