The document discusses the impact of corruption in Southeast Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, which was ranked 141st in corruption by Transparency International in 2008. It highlights the importance of integrating ethical standards and work ethic in public service as a strategy to combat corruption, which is defined as the failure to fulfill public responsibilities for personal gain. The document also outlines anti-corruption practices and the regulatory framework in the Philippines, including a code of conduct established by RA 6713 for public officials.

1. COPING WITH
CORRUPTION
THROUGH WORK
ETHIC AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
IN PUBLIC
SERVICE

2. COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Transparency International
(TI) is a global coalition against
corruption. It is an international
organization dedicated to
documenting and tracing levels of
government corruption.
01

3. Country
Rank
Some SEA
Countries
200
8
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” Refers to the
number of surveys that was
used to assess a country’s
performance. 17 surveys were
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.
Table 16. 2008 CPI in Some South East Asian Countries by Transparency
International
1
Transparency International (TI)

4. 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 16. 2008 CPI in Some South East Asian Countries by Transparency
International
1
Transparency International (TI)

5. 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
Table 17. 2008 Transparency International’s Most Clean and Honest
Government and Politics
1
Transparency International (TI)

6. COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
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 are enforceable in actions
among all public officials and employees, and punitive in
character whenever violated, suppressed or restricted personal
advantage.
02

7. COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Ethics and Governance
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.
02

8. COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
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.
3

9. Furthermore, studies of corruption in the Philippines point to these
adversarial effects which include, but not limited to:
3
The Culture of Corruption
Wastage of public resources as when
infrastructure projects are poor; and
substandard and do not last their projected
useful lifetime;
01
Low revenue collection, as when bribes
are paid in lieu of taxes and charges in
revenue collecting agencies;
02
Other socially unfeasible behavior such as
tax evasion and smuggling;
03
Cronyism, the highest form of
corruption expressed in cartels and
monopolies that reduce competitiveness
in industry;
04
Increase in the cost of doing business in the
country
05
Waste in the resources for
development, which postpones the poor
Filipino escape from poverty.
06

10. COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices
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.
4

11. 4
Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices
A.
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;
B.
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;

12. 4
Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices
C.
Accepting or having any
member of his family accept
employee in a private enterprise
which has pending official
business with him;
D.
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;

13. 4
Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices
E.
Neglecting or refusing without
sufficient justification to act
within a reasonable time on any
matter pending before him;
F.
Entering, or behalf of the
government, into any contract
that is grossly
disadvantageous to the
government;

14. 4
Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices
G.
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;
H.
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;

15. 4
Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices
I.
Knowingly approving or
granting any license, permit in
favor of any person not
qualified;
J.
Divulging valuable
information of a confidential
character.

16. COPING WITH CORRUPTION THROUGH WORK ETHIC
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials
and Employees (RA6713)
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.
5

17. Commitment
to Public
Interest
Professionalism
Nationalism
and Patriotism
Commitment
to Democracy
Simple
Living
Justness and
Sincerity
Responsiveness
to the Public
5
Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees (RA6713)
Program
Components
Figure 20. Eight Norms of Code of
Conduct and Ethical Standards