SONNY’S DILEMMA

 
Imagine yourself as Sonny on your way home
late Friday afternoon. You suddenly realize it will
be your daughter’s birthday tomorrow. You’re
feeling bad because you haven’t saved enough
to get her the present she’d like.
 
Then on the sidewalk, you find a wallet with
P1000.00 in it – just what you need to buy the
present. But you find an identification card in the
wallet telling the name and address of the owner.
 QUESTIONS

1. What will you do with the money? Why?

 
2. What can be a good reason for you to return the money? Can
you think of any other reason?

3. Would it be stealing to keep the money? Why is it wrong to

steal?

4. What if the owner of the money is rich, greedy and corrupt and
wouldn’t even give you a reward for returning the money? What
will you do then?

5. What if the money is one million (P1 million) pesos?

Ethics and Its Importance

Ethics

Ethics, sometimes known as moral philosophy, is a branch of 

philosophy that involves systematizing, defending and
recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct, often
addressing disputes of moral diversity. The term comes from
the Greek word ἠθικός ethikos from ἦθος ethos, which means
"custom, habit". The superfield within philosophy known as 
axiologyincludes both ethics and aesthetics and is unified by
each sub-branch's concern with value. Philosophical ethics
investigates what is the best way for humans to live, and what
kinds of actions are right or wrong in particular circumstances.
Ethics may be divided into three major areas of study:
• Meta-ethics, about the theoretical meaning and reference of moral
propositions and how their truth values (if any) may be determined
• Normative ethics, about the practical means of determining a moral
course of action
• Applied ethics draws upon ethical theory in order to ask what a
person is obligated to do in some very specific situation, or within
some particular domain of action (such as business)

Related fields are moral psychology, descriptive ethics, and 

value theory. Ethics seeks to resolve questions dealing with
human morality—concepts such as good and evil, 
right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime.
Defining ethics

Ethics is defines as the “Standards conduct and moral

requirements” necessary to function effectively within an
organization or profession. The police service has the
unique within an organized society to maintain law and
order within the community. No other organization has this
specific mission to maintain law and order and no other
organization is entrusted with the lawful power to arrest
persons, investigate suspected criminal activity, or use
force in lawful manner. Because the police are entrusted
with this important and fundamental authority, the people
who have been given this lawful power must exercise such
power with restraint and according to ethical standards.
 Ethics, in the law enforcement context, means honest and honorable
service to the community rather than working for personal gain or
individual profit.

Dino Lobaton states that "standard definitions of ethics have typically

included such phrases as 'the science of the ideal human character' or
'the science of moral duty' ".Richard William Paul and Linda Elder
define ethics as "a set of concepts and principles that guide us in
determining what behavior helps or harms sentient creatures". The
Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy states that the word ethics is
"commonly used interchangeably with 'morality' ... and sometimes it is
used more narrowly to mean the moral principles of a particular
tradition, group or individual." Paul and Elder state that most people
confuse ethics with behaving in accordance with social conventions,
religious beliefs and the law and don't treat ethics as a stand-alone
concept.
The word "ethics" in English can mean several things. It
can refer to philosophical ethics—a project that
attempts to use reason in order to answer various kinds
of ethical questions. It can also be used to describe a
particular person's own, idiosyncratic principles or
habits. For example: "Joe has good ethics." It may also
be used to characterize the questions of right-conduct
in some specific sphere, even when such right-conduct
is not examined philosophically: "business ethics," or
"the ethics of child-rearing" may refer, but need not
refer, to a philosophical examination of such issues.
Philosophical ethics, or "ethical theory," is not the
exclusive use of the term "ethics" in English.
  
Ethical Doctrine (PNP Code of Progressive Conduct and Ethical Standards)

Standard of Police Professionalism

PNP members shall perform their duties with integrity,

intelligence and competence in the application of
specialized skills and technical knowledge with
excellence and expertise.
 Professional Conduct
1. Commitment to Democracy – Uniformed
PNP members shall commit themselves to the
democratic way of life and values and
maintain the principle of public accountability.
They shall at all times uphold the Constitution
and be loyal to our country, people and
organization, above their loyalty to any
person.
2. Commitment to Public Interest – PNP members
shall always uphold public interest over and above
personal interest. All government properties,
resources and powers of their respective offices
must be employed and used effectively, honestly
and efficiently, particularly to avoid wastage of public
funds and revenues. PNP members must avoid and
prevent the “malversation” of human resources,
government time, property and funds.
3. Non – Partisanship – PNP members shall provide
services to everyone without discrimination
regardless of party affiliation in accordance with
existing laws and regulations.

4. Physical Fitness and Health – PNP members shall

strive to be physically and mentally fit in good health
at all times. Toward this end, they shall undergo
regular physical exercises and annual medical
examination in any PNP Hospital or Medical facility,
and actively participate in the Physical Fitness and
Sports Development Program of the PNP.
5. Secrecy Discipline – PNP members shall guard the
confidentiality of classified information against
unauthorized disclosure, including confidential aspects
of official business, special orders, communication and
other documents roster or any portion thereof, contents
of criminal records, identities of persons who may have
given information to the police in confidence and other
classified information or intelligence material.
 
6. Social Awareness – PNP members and their immediate
family members shall be encouraged to actively get
involved in religious, social and civic activities to
enhance the image of the organization without affecting
their official duties.
7. Non – Solicitation of Patronage – PNP members
shall seek self – improvement through career
development and shall not directly or indirectly solicit
influence or recommendation from politicians, high
ranking government officials prominent citizens,
persons affiliated with civic or religious organizations
with regards to their assignments, promotions,
transfer or those of other members of the force, nor
shall they initiate any petition to be prepared and
presented by citizens in their behalf. Moreover, they
shall advise their immediate relatives not to interfere
in the activities of the police service particularly in the
assignment and reassignment of personnel.
8. Proper Care and Use of Public Property –
PNP members shall promote and maintain
sense of responsibility in the protection, proper
care and judicious disposition and use of public
property issued for their official use or entrusted
to their care and custody just like “a good father
of their family”. When the Commander/Director
is turned-over to the incoming. A committee for
the purpose shall be proper. Hence, it is a taboo
for outgoing Commander/Director to detach,
remove and bring home or to his new
assignment properties which do not personally
belong to him.
9. Respect for Human Rights – In the
performance of duty, PNP members shall respect
and protect human dignity and uphold the human
rights of all persons . No member shall inflict,
instigate or tolerate extra-judicial killings, arbitrary
arrests, any act of torture or other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment and shall
not invoke superior orders or exceptional
circumstances such as state – of – war, a threat
to national security, internal political instability or
nay public emergency as a justification for
committing such human rights violations.
 
10. Devotion to Duty – PNP members shall perform
their duties with dedication thoroughness, efficiency
enthusiasm, determination, and manifest concern for
public welfare, and shall refrain from engaging in any
activity which shall be conflict with their duties as public
servants.

11.Conservation of Natural Resources – PNP Members

shall help in the development and conversation of our
natural resources for ecological balance and posterity
as these are the inalienable heritage of our people.
13. Discipline – PNP members shall conduct themselves
properly at all times in keeping with the rules and
regulations of the organizations.
 
14. Loyalty – PNP members shall be loyal to the
Constitution and the police service as manifested by their
loyal to their superior’s peers and subordinates as well.

15. Obedience to Superiors – PNP members shall obey

lawful orders of and be courteous to superior officers and
other appropriate authorities within the chain of command.
They shall readily accept whenever they are assigned
anywhere in the country. Therefore, it is taboo for any
personnel to petition in court or in any public forum his
assignment.
15.  Command Responsibility – In accordance
with the Doctrine on Command Responsibility,
immediate Commanders/Directors shall be
responsible for the effective supervision,
control and direction of their personnel and
shall see to it that all government resources
shall be managed, expended or utilized in
accordance with laws and regulations and
safeguard against losses thru illegal or
improper disposition.
 The Ethical Standards
Ethical standards shall refer to established and generally
accepted moral values, Ethical acts to be observed are the
following:

1. Morality – PNP members shall adhere to high standards

of morality and decency and shall set good examples for
other to follow. In no instance during their terms of office,
among other things, shall they be involved as owners,
operators, managers or investors in any house of ill-repute
or illegal gambling den or other places devoted to vices,
nor they shall patronize such places unless on official
duty, and tolerate operations of such establishments in
their respective areas of responsibilities. They shall be
faithful to their lawfully wedded spouses.
2. Judicious Use of Authority – PNP members shall
exercise proper and legitimate use of authority in the
performance of duty.

3. Integrity – PNP members shall not allow themselves to

be victims of corruption and dishonest practices in
accordance with the provisions of RA 6713 and other
applicable laws.

4. Justice – PNP members shall strive constantly to

respect the rights of other so that they can fulfill their
duties and exercise their rights as human beings, parents,
children, citizens, workers, leaders, or in other capacities
and to see to it that others do likewise.
5. Humility – PNP members shall recognize the fact that they
are public servants and not the masters of the people and
towards this end, they should perform their duties without
attracting attention or expecting the applause of others.
 
6. Orderliness – PNP members shall follow original
procedures in accomplishing tasks assigned to them to
minimize waste in the use of time, money and effort.
 
7. Perseverance – Once a decision is made, PNP members
shall take legitimate means to achieve the goal even in the
face of internal or external difficulties, and despite anything
which might weaken their resolve in the course of time.