This document provides an overview of police ethics training for the Philippine National Police (PNP). It defines key terms like ethics, morals and values. It explains challenges to ethical conduct can come from individual character flaws or organizational issues. It reviews the 8 articles of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and how they relate to PNP standards. The document also outlines the basic standards of conduct for PNP personnel and the role of supervisors in promoting ethics and combating corruption through leadership, training and addressing unethical behavior.

1. ICITAP PHILIPPINES
POLICE ETHICS

2. To develop a clear understanding of the
international standards of police ethics, the
relationship between ethical behavior and
effective police service, and how those
principles are applied in the Philippine
National Police.
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3. After this instruction, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the terms “ethics”, “moral”, “values” as it is
applied to the police service;
2. Explain the challenges to ethical conduct;
3. Review the eight articles contained in the United
Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement
Officials and how they are related to PNP standards
of conduct;
4. Recall the basic standards of conduct required of
PNP personnel; and
5. Enumerate the role of supervisors in Ethics and
Combating Corruption;
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4. What is it?
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5. Ethics is defined as:
The “standards of conduct and moral
requirements” necessary to function effectively
within an organization or profession.
But what does that mean?
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6. Ethics, in the law enforcement context, means
honest and honorable service to the community
rather than working for personal gain or individual
profit.
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7. What are they?
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8. Values are those ideas and concepts within each
of us that we deem important.
• guided us.
• help determine our behaviors as we live our
lives, and assist our decision making.
• help us decide right from wrong, and
• help define who we are and what we stand for.
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9. Values originate from:
• Our families,
• Traditions,
• Religion,
• Elders, and
• Friends.
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10. Group and Organizational values may be formal
or informal.
• Values help the group and the organization survive
• Organizations develop values much the same as each
individual has developed values.
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11. Good organizations are formed by acceptance
of good values.
• Those organizations viewed negatively by the people
they serve are made up of poor values, developed by
poor employees.
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12. The PNP will be an effective organization only if it
develops good values. A good value system for
a police agency includes:
• Honesty and integrity
• Respect for Human Rights
• Professionalism
• Strong sense of justice
• Desire to help and serve others
• Patriotism
• Selflessness
Discussion Activity
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13. The primary challenges to ethical police behavior
are due to:
• Individual character challenges or,
• Organizational challenges.
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14. Individual character challenges – These difficulties
arise from personal flaws or defects where
police personnel engage in acts of
• Dishonesty,
• greed,
• brutality, or
• individual acts of corruption.
Example: a police officer stops a motorist or truck driver
for a traffic violation and the motorist offers a small
amount of cash not to issue a traffic citation.
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15. Organizational challenges
– more difficult to deal with.
Example: Police agencies that engage in corrupt practices
include such activities as offering “protection rackets” to
allow criminal gangs to continue business, while demanding
a percentage of the criminal gains;
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16. In 1979 the United Nations General Assembly adopted
an official guide for all law enforcement officials of
all countries.
• This standard is known as The Code of Conduct for
Law Enforcement Officials.
• The United Nations Code of Conduct constitutes a
widely recognized international standard for police
conduct.
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17. Article 1: Law enforcement officials shall at all times
fulfill the duty imposed upon them by law, by serving
and by protecting all persons against illegal acts,
consistent with the high degree of responsibility
required by their profession.
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18. Article 2: In the performance of their duty, law
enforcement officials shall respect and protect
human dignity and maintain and uphold the human
rights of all persons.
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19. Article 3: Law enforcement may use force only
when strictly necessary and to the extent
required for the performance of their duty.
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20. Article 4: Matters of a confidential nature in the
possession of law enforcement officials shall be
kept confidential, unless the performance of duty or
the needs of justice strictly require otherwise.
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21. Article 5: No law enforcement official may inflict,
instigate or tolerate any act of torture or other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment, nor may any law enforcement official
invoke superior orders…as justification of torture or
other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
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22. Article 6: Law enforcement officials shall ensure
the full protection of the health of persons in their
custody and, in particular, shall take immediate
action to secure medical attention whenever
required.
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23. Article 7: Law enforcement officials shall not
commit any act of corruption. They shall
rigorously oppose and combat all such acts.
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24. Article 8: Law enforcement officials shall respect
the law and the present Code. They shall also, to
the best of their capability, prevent and rigorously
oppose any violation of them.
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25. Philippine National Police
Professional Conduct
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26. 1. Commitment to Democracy –
Uniformed PNP members shall
• commit themselves to the democratic way of life and
values
• maintain the principle of public accountability.
• uphold the Constitution
• be loyal to our country, people and organization,
above their loyalty to any person.
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27. 2. Commitment to Public Interest –
PNP members shall:
• uphold public interest over and above personal
interest.
• employ and use all government properties,
resources and powers of their respective offices
effectively, honestly and efficiently, particularly to
avoid wastage of public funds and revenues.
• avoid and prevent the “malversation” of human
resources, government time, property and funds.
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28. 3. Non-Partisanship –
PNP members shall …
• provide services to everyone without discrimination
regardless of party affiliation in accordance with
existing laws and regulations.
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29. 4. Physical Fitness and Health –
PNP members shall …
• strive to be physically and mentally fit and in good
health at all times.
• shall undergo regular physical exercises and
annual medical examination in any PNP Hospital
or Medical facility
• actively participate in the Physical Fitness and
Sports Development Program of the PNP.
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30. 5. Secrecy Discipline –
PNP members shall …
• guard the confidentiality of classified information
against unauthorized disclosure
…including confidential aspects of official business, special
orders, communications 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.
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31. 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.
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32. 7. Non-Solicitation of Patronage –
PNP members shall
• seek self-improvement through career development
• shall NOT directly or indirectly solicit influence or
recommendation with regards to their assignments,
promotions, transfer or those of other members of the
force
• shall NOT initiate any petition to be prepared and
presented by citizens in their behalf.
• shall advise their immediate relatives not to interfere
in the activities of the police service
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33. 8. Proper Care and Use of Public Property –
PNP members shall …
• promote and maintain a sense of responsibility in
the protection, proper care and judicious disposition
and use of public property
When the Commander/Director is relieved from his post, all
properties/equipment belonging to the government must be
turned-over to the incoming.
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34. 9. Respect for Human Rights –
PNP members shall…
• respect and protect human dignity and uphold the
human rights of all persons.
• NOT inflict, instigate or tolerate extra-judicial killings,
arbitrary arrests, any act of torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
• NOT invoke superior orders or exceptional
circumstances
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35. 10. Devotion to Duty –
PNP members shall …
• perform their duties with dedication thoroughness,
efficiency enthusiasm, determination, and manifest
concern for public welfare
• shall refrain from engaging in any activity which shall
be in conflict with their duties as public servants.
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36. 11. Conservation of Natural Resources –
PNP members shall …
• help in the development and conservation of our
natural resources
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37. 12. Discipline –
PNP members shall …
• conduct themselves properly at all times in keeping
with the rules and regulations of the organization.
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38. 13. Loyalty –
PNP members shall be …
• loyal to the Constitution and the police service
as manifested by their loyalty to their superiors, peers and
subordinates as well
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39. 14. 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.
• readily accept whenever they are assigned anywhere
in the country
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40. 15. Command Responsibility –
Doctrine on Command Responsibility states
immediate Commanders/ Directors shall:
• be responsible for the effective supervision, control
and direction of their personnel
• see to it that all government resources shall be
managed, expended or utilized in accordance with
laws and regulations s
• safeguard against losses through illegal or improper
disposition.
End
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41. Morality is the area of knowledge that is concerned
with principles of right and wrong behavior, and
establishing and conforming to such principles.
Ethics is the standards of conduct and moral
requirements necessary to function effectively
within an organization or profession
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42. Police are granted broader authority and responsibility
than any other government institution.
• Police are given the responsibility for making life
and-death decisions.
• They also have legal authority to exercise power
and control over the public.
– such power must be tempered by high ethical
standards.
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43. What do they mean?
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44. Corruption
… officer’s misuse of police authority ‘for personal gain.
Misconduct
…nonconformity with police obligations. It encompasses
corruption and a host of other misdeeds.
Integrity
…uncompromising adherence to a set of values.
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45. RESPONSIBILITY FOR
COMMUNITY CITIZENS
LAW ENFORCEMENT
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46. 1.Responsibility to the Community – Law enforcement
is vital to every community. Officers have the same
duties to their community as all citizens:
– to pay taxes,
– to vote,
– to participate in community activities,
– live as civic minded members of the community.
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47. 2. Responsibility to Law Enforcement – Any true
professional is:
– sincere,
– dedicated and
– loyal.
Regardless of rank, assignment, or seniority, police
officers have a duty to promote professionalism.
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48. 3. Responsibility to Citizens – Law enforcement will
always be the profession that people call on most often
when faced with a crisis.
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49. Role Model
With leadership comes additional ethical responsibilities.
• Supervisors must be leaders and role models who
develop their employees’ senses of ethics.
• The agency must support the supervisor in these
endeavors and provide procedures which help the
honest to stay honest and the dishonest to be found
out.
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50. Encouragement of loyalty
• Supervisors are responsible for encouraging
teamwork, loyalty and comradeship.
• They must also take timely and appropriate
measures to counteract unethical conduct or bad
attitudes.
• The best way for supervisors to develop dedication
and loyalty is to be worthy of respect.
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51. Combating Corruption and Fostering Integrity –
Means by which corruption can be combated are as
follows:
 Speaking Out
 Internal Audience
 External Audience
 External Audience
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52.  Improving the use of discretion
 Promoting integrity through training
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53. 1. Explain the term “ethics”, “moral”, “values” as it
is applied to the police service;
2. Explain the challenges to ethical conduct;
3. Review the eight articles contained in the United
Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement
Officials and how they are related to PNP
standards of conduct;
4. Recall the basic standards of conduct required of
PNP personnel; and
5. Enumerate the role of supervisors in Ethics and
Combating Corruption;
Mod 2 Lesson 2.1
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54. Mod 2 Lesson 2.1
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