CHAPTER I: ETHICS, MORALS, VIRTUES & VALUES

A discussion on ethics should start by emphasizing its relevance in decision making and in
the actions taken by an individual. Also, a person's emotional intelligence contributes to that
person's ability to make ethical decisions or actions, So what is ethics?
 ls defined as "the science of the morality of human acts and rational human behavior"
(Corpuz, 2018).
 Is the capacity to determine the right conduct and the knowledge of what is right from
wrong.
 It is a system of moral principles or moral standards which govern one's conduct.
 It is a system of principles and rules concerning the duty of a person set by society or
culture.
 It is a system of rules and practice applied to a single class of human actions.
 It is the study and philosophy of human conduct, which emphasizes on a person's
ability to determine right from wrong. Also, it encompasses the set character standards
expected of a person in a race of nation.

Four Levels of Ethics

Ethics may differ from one individual or another or one society to another. According to
Rama (2009) and Hasa (2021), there are four levels of ethics in an organization which are:
1. Personal Morality. It is a person's basic concept of right and wrong, which is dependent on
several factors such as parental influences, religious beliefs, cultural and social mores, and past
personal experiences.
2. Professional Ethics. Every professional has a set of professional norm and rules or guiding
principles s that obligate them to act in certain professional ways. Such guidelines are codified
by professional associations and enforced by law.
3. Organizational Ethics. This is also known as business ethics which is composed of values,
principles, and standards that guide the behavior of a person or a group of individuals in an
organization. Every organization has an environment or culture that includes both formal and
informal rules of ethical conduct. Public organizations typically have several of such rules (\
Verlinden, n.d.).
4. Social Ethics. Social ethics oblige members of a given society to act in ways that both
protect individuals and further the progress of the groups as a whole. Social ethics are formal to
the extent that they can be found in the laws of a given society, informal to the extent that they
are part of an individual's social conscience.
Morals
 Pertains to character and behavior from an individual's point of view of what is right and
wrong.
 The judgment an individual makes relating to societal principles of right and wrong
behavior.
 The duties of police officer under the Code of Ethics deal primarily with principles or
rules about what is "right from what is wrong.
 A moralist is a person who values or follows good conduct, even in the absence of
religion.

Differences between Ethics and Morals

 Both ethics and morals refer to the type of customary behavior because of the approval
or practices of the group and are thus essentially synonymous. Ethics ordinarily suggests
the study of moral conduct or the principles underlying the desirable types of human
conduct; on the other hand, morals simply refer to the human conduct itself.
 Ethics will guide a person's judgment concerning the morality of human acts, whereas
moral is the application of ethics.
Virtue
 The habit that inclines the person to act in a way that harmonizes with his or her nature.
 It is the habit of doing good.
 It is the opposite of vice and the habit of doing bad.

Four Moral or Cardinal Virtues

The four cardinal virtues traces its roots to Aristotle' s ethical system which still influence the
modern philosophers. Aristole listed several virtues, four of these are considered the
cornerstone system of his moral framework:
1. Prudence - Refers to the ability to govern and discipline oneself by means of reason and
sound judgment. Its is the virtue that attracts the intellect to choose the most effective means
for accomplishing what is morally good and avoiding what is evil.
2. Temperance- This refers to an individual's ability to moderate or avoid something or an act.
This is the virtue that regulates the carnal appetite for sensual or material pleasures, which
allows the individual to avoid the extremes of self-indulgence and bodily pleasure.
3. Fortitude - This virtue is also known as courage. Simply, it is the individual's ability to face
danger in order to fight for what is right or just. This virtue refers to the firmness of the mind
which is not clouded by fear. Relative to this virtue are patience which is characterized by
calmness and composure when enduring difficult situations, perseverance despite the obstacles
and challenges, and endurance when faced with difficulties.
4. Justice - It refers to the virtue that inclines the individual to judge rightly and do what is
right. Being just means being fair in all transactions with all individuals.

Values- is the foundation of society. It refers to a set of standard behavior that "...has a
normative obligatory character and presupposes the liberty of possible decision." It also refers
to the priorities that an individual give to the elements in his life and career based on his or her
ethics, morality, and integrity.

The Six (6) Core Moral Values:

Every society needs a moral foundation. As lifted from the PNP Ethics Value Formation (n.d.),
the core moral values are:
1. Love of God- Give God what is due Him and develop the moral virtue of religion through
adoration, prayer and obedience.
2. Respect of Authority- Treat freedom with a sense of self- determination and personal
responsibility, and as a social being, exercise intelligently obedience.
3. Selfless Love of People- Respect human life, respect the human body, and learn to give,
to give oneself, and to love.
4. Chastity- Respect the dignity of human sexuality by practicing chastity in marriage through
sexual love that is romantic, procreative, exclusive and lasting, or if unmarried, by having no
experience of sexual pleasure.
5. Responsible Dominion over Material Things - Should not be domninated by it
(detachment) and should share it with his fellowmen bearing in mind that the material world is
limited (scarce).
6. Truthfulness Never telling what is not true (untruth) because it destroys the foundation of
social life which is based on mutual trust.
The Six (6) Core Work Values:
As professionals, we are expected to exhibit values that align to what the society expects of us
as we perform our duties. These values are (PNP Ethics Value Formation, n.d.):
1. Industriousness It refers to what an individual wants, looks for, keeps busy, and
strives to work well.
2. Sense of Responsibility-It refers to what an individual does which is dependent on his will
and intellect which is applied to his job (creativity/initiative) and is held accountable for it.
3. Order (Sense of Time)- It refers to an individual's ability to prioritize the use of time, value
his time, and apply the adage "first things first."
4. Collaboration - It refers to the ability of the individual to foster teamwork and solidarity to
promote unity.
5. Determination - It refers to an individual's qualities which are perseverance, patience, and
strength to overcome obstacles, difficulties, and trials.
6. Service - It refers to the act of performing duties or work for another, a person or an
institution, that brings about benefits and/or results.

Importance of Ethics and Values

 Ethics is an essential knowledge. Without ethical perception man is only an animal.
Without values, man, as a rational being, is a failure. For ethics is too essential to be
dismissed, each individual is bestowed with the innate ability to understand and discern
between right and wrong. No matter how rudimentary and vague, even the primitive
men had it. Whilst, the modern man, finding convenient reasons to turn his back from it,
discovers that he is in the center of it.
 Moral values are the true measure of what the an individual should be. The most
powerful king, or the most successful professional, is nothing unless he is morally
upright. Thus, the philosophers speak of ethics as the "only necessary knowledge."
According to Jacques Leclercq, a Belgian theologian and priest, "We are tempted to
center everything on human happiness... forgetting that man's greatness perfection and
happiness, his whole meaning in fact, consist in transcending the commonly accepted
human good."
 Moral values are the foundation of every human society According to Russell (1995) as
cited in Ethics and Formation Manual (2014) "without civic morality, communities perish,
without personal morality their survival has no value.
 Every culture sees the importance of morality as a standard of behavior. When the moral
foundations of a nation are threatened, it also threatens the society.

Reasons for Studying Ethics:

 To make the right decisions based on what is right.
 To have an orderly and peaceful personal and social life.
 To value one's life and that of other individuals.

Significance of Ethics and Values in Police Work

1. Immense powers of the police.
The police officers have discretionary powers over the civilians. For example, they have the
discretion to arrest or not to arrest or to mediate or to charge an individual or a group of
individuals. In addition, the police officers have the power to decide whether to use or not to
use deadly force, which gives them the power of life and death in some circumstances. There
are no other public figure, aside from the police, who possesses the same authority over the
personal destiny of people. A police officer, in some instances, can be a prosecutor, a judge, and
executioner. In fact, the police officer holds a great deal of power over the lives of the people
because of their authority to enforce the law.
Without an ethical perspective, a police officer becomes a tyrant. As the police officer's
moral foundation weakens, his tendency to abuse his power over citizens increases
exponentially. It has been well- documented throughout history that power corrupts, and that
absolute power corrupts absolutely. In this sense,it is the absence of ethical perspectives which
explains the Occurrence of police misconducts.

2. The Social Contract.

The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in The Social Contract (1 762), John Locke in
Two Treatises on Civil Government (1690), and Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan (1651) gave birth
to the idea that police officers must display a higher standards of ethical behavior than that of
the average citizens., Rousseau writes (1762) in The Social Contract "Each of us puts his person
and all his power under the supreme direction of the general will, and in our capacity, we
receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole."
Simply put, it is expected of the police officers to possess and act in accordance to the highest
level of integrity and to obey the societal rules and laws.

3. Police officers as role models.

According to August Vollmer (1936), the Father of Police Professionalism, as published in The
Police in Modern Society, cited in Rosenbaum, Schuck, and Cordner (2011) in The National
Police Research Platform: The Life Course of New Officers, "The citizen expects the police
officer to have the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of David, the strength of
Samson, the patience of Job, the leadership of Moses, the faith of Daniel, the diplomacy of
Lincoln, the tolerance of the Carpenter of Nazareth, the kindness of the Good Samaritan, and
finally, an intimate knowledge of every branch of natural, biological, and social sciences. If he
had all these qualities, he might be a good policeman."

Ethics and Action: Why We Need to Behave?

(An Ethical Basis: Rules, Results, and Relationships)

A. Rules - Individuals accept rules which dictate our behavior necessary aspect of social
contract to protect and based on the belief that it is by divine revelation human welfare. Kant
argued that there i is a "universal law which we must all comply. The authority of laws enacted
by a government depends on our recognition of its right to govern. People who choose a career
in the public service may have no difficulty with that.

B. Results - The utilitarian principle which emphasizes the greatest good for the greatest
number" is difficult to the consequences of one's actions, The quote "seeking "operationalize."
For example, the public officers who try to divide what is good for the majority. However, in
reality. they are only trying to avoid inflicting hurt or danger to others.

C. Relationships - Confucius' golden rule "Do not do to others what you would not have them
do to you" spoke of the principle of reciprocity. For him, care and kindness, especially to one's
family, are the primary virtues. However, this can also led corruption and nepotism when family
members are favored over the others who are more qualified. Likewise, this golden rule is
aligned to Jesus Christ's teaching that "In everything, do to others as you would have them do
to you." This supports the belief that showing concern to others through reciprocity is in
accordance with the rules and revelation.
Accountability and Action
Actions means the ability of an individual to obey instructions and to report how, when, and
where these instructions have been accomplished. However, if these actions require discretion
and accountability, an explanation or a justification for such actions is required.
Accountability for one's actions require explanations what happened and why it happed. We are
accountable for the results or outcomes of our actions, for the professional standards of our
work, and for the effective use of resources including financial resources. Accountability need
not be given only to those who are in command.

Those in public service must be accountable to:

A. Accountability in Government and in Civil Society- There is a network of
accountability between the different branches or units of the State. This ensures that
there is separation and balance of powers, so that no one part of the system can
dominate or monopolize the others.

B. Accountability in Management- Public services are mostly hierarchical, with each officer
accountable to a manager. However, there are instances when the lines of management
accountability are blurred.

C. Accountability to the Public - Public servants are accountable to the public to whom they
are appointed to serve. In the recent years, there is an increase concern and emphasis on
accountability to "clients" or "customers."

CHAPTER II: POLICE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Professional ethics- branch of moral science which treats obligation which a member of a
profession owes to the public, to his profession, to his brethren, and to his clients.

Professional ethics is commonly known as "ethical business practices," which refer to the
standards or codes of conduct set in a specific profession. A code of ethics outlines the
expectations of those involved in the professions or organizations, which every member is
expected to follow. Professionals who do not condone to these rules are called out or
sanctioned. By setting out expected behaviors in the form of professional ethics, professionals
work together to try to uphold a good reputation. The practice of a profession cannot be
regulated entirely by legislation. Each profession therefore, subscribes to a set of moral code.
This Code of Ethics guides the actuation of a professional where the law is silent or inadequate.

Some examples of these professional ethics are:

 Legal Ethics
 Medical Ethics
 Nursing Ethics
 Police Ethics

A Vision of Ethical Policing

The ethically ideal police system would be one with integrity and not riddles with
corruption or misconducts. In addition, u-s against-them and disrespect for the limits of the law
or how its enforced are not observed. In an ideal police system, all actions
done in private and public are in accordance to the law and ethics. In this sense, mistakes or
errors are minimized because of probability instances where mistakes are Committed, these are
treated as propriety, restraint, reasonableness, and caution. However, in rare
learning opportunities and areas of improvement.
In the ideal system, recruitment, selection, mechanisms would be flawless, Promotion
will be on a merit based system. Adequate supervision and resources will be provided to the
personnel so that they may perform their duties effectively and efficiently. Also, "open door
policies to the public, academics and the media is implemented or practiced. This means that
the public, through media and the academics, are well- informed of the police's actions. The
police officers will conduct themselves adherent to the words
of August Vollimer that the police will conduct themselves in ways that make it impossible for
anyone to make a joke about them.

The commitment to a code of ethics is unconditional. A professional does not his or her
ideals (or revise their mission statement) just because circumstances in the environment have
changed. The true test of character being able to keep one's faith in
the face of adversity.

The Code of Ethics was introduced in 1954 based on the nine principles of policing by Sir
Robert Peel of England Metropolitan Police. Peel, the Father of Law Enforcement, introduced the
policing principles or the Peelian Principles in 1892. These principles still
remain crucial and relevant at present. The nine principles are (Law Enforcement Action
Partnership, n.d.):

1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.
2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police
actions.
3. The police must secure the cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be
able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
4. The degree of public cooperation diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of
physical force.
5. The police seeks and preserves public favor not by catering to the public opinion but by
constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
6. The police's use of physical force is only necessary when the exercise of persuasion, advice,
and warning is found to be insufficient.
7. The police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the
historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police. The police being
the members of the public who are paid to give full- time attention to duties which are
incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
8. The police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear
to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of
police action in dealing with it.

What makes a police officer?

The ideal police officer is best described in the words of James Q. Wilson (1968).
According to Wilson (1968), "it is not money, or organization that defines the
policeman's job, it is the job that defines the policeman." This is further supported by
Peter Manning and John Van Maanen (1978) who believes that Policing
is more than a job; it is a way of life." Simply put, what makes the cops different from non-
police is the job itself.
Five characteristics of a police officer's job:
There are several characteristics or description that will elucidate on the difficult job that
police officers have. These characteristics are summarized below:

1. The Uniform. The uniform sets the officer apart from the civilians/public and it clearly
identifies his or her status as a police officer. It is not possible for the uniformed officer
to be inconspicuous or to blend into the crowd. Wearing the uniform symbolizes the
officer as a member of a particular minority group- the police.

2. The Power. As previously discussed in earlier chapters, the uniformed police officer is a
walking symbol of government power. The officer is recognized as having a dominant
position by his or her ability to reward or punish the citizen. This shows that there is an
imbalance in the power between the police and the citizen, which reflects the nature of
their relationship.

3. The Working Hours. Police officers work in rotating shifts. A typical pattern involves
changing work shifts every month. This means that the officer alternately reports in
days shift for one month, afternoons for the next, and nights for the third month. Police
officers are also expected to work on weekends, holidays, and must put in overtime in
emergency situations, and for court appearances.(24/7)

4. The Danger. Daily, thousands of PNP personnel patrol our streets. While carrying out
this function, they deal with several issues, situations, and problems. They must also
cope with situations wherein there is little time to decide and make a judgment. Hence,
constant movement and attentiveness must always be observed when responding to a
call for help which may have life or death implications. This is applicable for both the
officer patrolling large rural spaces and small urban beats. As previously suggested, it is
more the exception than the rule for many patrol officers to have to deal with truly
crime related incidents, especially crimes in progress, Still, the officers must always
be vigilant and ready to anticipate the "big call" that will require their knowledge and
skill to survive.

5. The Dirty Work. One of the most important functions the police do for society is
performing its dirty work which include dealing with dead bodies, busting crimes,
assisting crime victims, running or arresting criminals, assisting in automobile accidents,
and other aspects of society which requires their help. Fogelson (1977) suggested that
the police occupation suffers from a pariah complex because of the nature of their work
and functions. On a somewhat broader level, according to Bittner (1975) because police
have become the repository of coercive force, they have a tainted occupation. That is,
the police can (and do) use blatant force to accomplish their tasks in a society that has
increasingly become apathetic.
Strengths of the Filipino Police Officer:
To ensure that the Philippine police force, the Philippine National Police, is constantly
improved, it is important that its strengths and weaknesses are assessed and identified. A
significant aspect of PNP is its human resource or its police. The following are the perceived
strengths of the Filipino police officers:

1. Spiritual Beliefs. The PNP members are traditionally religious and God-loving persons,
regardless of their religious beliefs or practices. During times of great personal crisis and
danger, they bravely forge on, confident and have faith that Divine Providence will grant
them protection and safety.

2. Valor. History attests that the Filipino law-enforcers have exemplified the tradition of
valor in defending the country from aggression and oppression and in protecting
preserving the life and d property of the people. They sacrificed their limbs and lives for the
sake o of their countrymen whom they have pledged to serve and protect.

3. Patriotism. The PNP members are traditionally patriotic by

nature. They manifest their love of country with a pledge of allegiance to the flag and a vow to
defend the Constitution.

4. Discipline. The discipline of PNP members is manifested in their instinctive obedience

to lawful orders and thorough and spontaneous actions towards attainment of
organizational objectives guided by moral, ethical, and legal norms.

5. Courteous. The PNP members are upright in character, gentle in manners, dignified in
appearance, and sincere in their concern to their fellowmen.

6. Word of Honor. The PNP members' word is their bond. They stand by and commit to
uphold it.

7. Duty. The PNP members have historically exemplified themselves as dedicated public
servants who perform their tasks with deep sense of responsibility and self-sacrifice.
They shall readily accept assignment anywhere in the country.

8. Loyalty. The PNP members are traditionally loyal to the organization, their country, and
the Filipino people as borne by history and practice.

9. Camaraderie. The binding spirit that enhances teamwork and cooperation in the police
organization, extending to the people they serve, is manifested by the PNP members' deep
commitment and Concern for one another.

Weaknesses of the Filipino Police Officer:

Despite the PNP's numerous strengths, its weaknesses are also acknowledged as areas
of improvement and learning opportunities. These weakness are:

1. Misplaced Loyalty. Due to the bonds shared by police officers in their line of work, it
becomes one's paramount duty to protect his fellow officers at all costs, as they would protect
the civilians or the public. This weakness have been observed in situations where a police
officer is protected by his colleagues during investigations despite committing bribery, seriously
illegally hurting someone, or committing other illegal acts. In addition, there are also instances
when an officer is not reported to the supervisors, media, or investigators despite routinely
breaking rules. In the system, they adhere to the belief that "If you don't like it, quit or get
transferred to another assignment. But never, ever, blow the whistle."

2. Cynlcism. Sometimes, because of their experiences acquired as law enforcers, the

police view all citizens with suspicion. Everyone e is a possible problem,
the citizens from the senior officers. Cynicism spills over to their relations with other people. It
has been observed that the officers' friends expect special favors and treatment even from the
most upstanding person . As a result, their work life leads them to the conclusion that all people
are weak, corrupt and dangerous.

3. The Use of Force. The police sometimes u use force in situations wherein a threat is
perceived. Threats may be interpreted as acts s or statements "against the officer's
authority" rather than those against the officer's physical person. Force, a symbol of an
officer's authority and dominance, is both expressive and instrumental and is also
believed to be the most effective method of control. Simply put, the public understands
the symbol and use of the baton which encompasses all social and economic barriers as
an effective tool to promote discipline and obedience.

4. "The Police as Victims" Mentality. This concept is based on the notion that the
police are victims of public is understanding and scorn, low wages, and self-serving
administrators. This victimization mindset leads to the idea that the police is above
others and should be subjected to a different set of rules, different from that of the
public.

5. Preferential Application of the Law. The law should dictate how it should be
enforced regardless of who is the suspect and not the other way around. The police are
prone to provide preferential treatment based on their relations to the suspect. In some
cases, the attitude, demeanor, cooperativeness, and even regional affiliation, age, and
social class play an important part in how they decide to treat people and whether or
not to arrest suspects in particular.

6. The Police as Untouchables". The notion or practice that disrespect for police
authority or "contempt of a person in uniform" is an offense that should always be
punished with an arrest or use of force. Also, there are instances when the party has
committed no violation of the law, a police officer always find a safe way to impose
punishment, including arrest on fake charges.

7. Rewards. Police do very dangerous Work for low wages, so, it cannot be avoided that
the officers when given rewards such as free meals, Christmas gifts, and free access to
movies, public transport, etc. accept these from the public that they serve. However, it
should be done in earnest as only rewards that does not alter one's actions or decisions
with or without these rewards. Most importantly, a police officer should not receive
money in exchange for favors such as not issuing traffic tickets or avoiding an arrest.
However, the "laughing money" notion exists which states that it is acceptable to accept
any type of reward as long as it was given wholeheartedly by an individual to a police
officer.

8. Due Process. Another weakness of the officers is the use or the none use of due
process to protect the criminals at the expense of the law abiding citizens. Also, the
police have been observed to conduct illegal searches and wiretaps, interrogation
without advising the suspects of their rights, , and inflicting physical pain to coerce a
confession as acceptable methods when fighting crimes. However, the use of the due
 process is seen by some as an obstacle that makes it more difficult for the police to do
their jobs.

9. Lying and Deception. The belief that lying and deception are an essential part of the
police job. Even committing perjury should be necessary to protect the police or get the
"bad quy" convicted. This stems from the notion that violations of due process cannot
be admitted to prosecutors or in court, so perjury is necessary and therefore proper.

Challenges Facing the Filipino Police Officer:

Apart from the usual, day-to-day challenges in the conduct of their job, the list below
highlights what hamper or affect the Filipino police officer:

1. Political Meddling. Compared to AFP and NBI, the PNP is unique since it does not have
policy formulation functions which is assigned to NAPOLCOM, therefore the role of the head in
the PNP is limited to operations management. It is also observed that some elected officials
often attempt to Influence police operations to bolster their political positions. In the
community, hence, in some instances, police positions are awarded based on political
patronage.
2. Poor Salary. The PNP is subjected to the rigid salary structure of the government's salary
standardization plan. Except for the in-step vertical progression of pay which is present in the
police salary scheme, the salary structure accordance with Salary Standardization Law (RA
6758). For uniformed personnel starts with Salary Grade10 (entrance level) up to Salary Grade
30 (PNP Head). In spite of the salary adjustments given starting 2000 and the provision of
additional pay in the form of collateral allowances, the current police salary is still very low. In
fact, graft and corruption cases in the police has been attributed primarily to low pay.

3. Corruption. Corruption, regardless of who perpetuates it, erodes communities and

governments that oversee them. Graft and corruption in the police exists in different
degrees. Corruption can come in the form of negligible as siphoning petroleum from
police vehicles for private consumption to illegal logging or gun-smuggling activities or
illegal numbers game. In addition, corruption is also rampant in over- pricing of police
uniforms and supplies, lending money at usurious rates, and conversion deals.
Conversion deals is the creation of artificial budget allocations to circumvent the
Commissions on Audit. Apart from being the committers of corrupt acts, the police are
also victims of the administrator's lack of transparency in police benefits. These acts lead
to the continuous erosion of public service due to lack of public trust and questionable
credibility.
 CHAPTER III
IMPACT OF FILIPINO CULTURE ON ETHICS AND VALUES
FORMATION

Introduction

The Moral Recovery Program of the PNP traces its roots to Senate Resolution No. 10
directing the Committee on Education Arts and Culture and the Committee on Social Justice.
Welfare and Development to conduct a joint inquiry into the positive e and negative traits of the
Filipinos with a view to solving the social ills and strengthening the nation's moral fiber.

Positive Traits of the Filipino

Filipinos are known for many of their positive traits that make them standout over other
nationalities from other countries. These traits are summarized below (Strengths and
Weaknesses of Filipino People, n.d.):

1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao or Building Social Relations Filipinos are known for our

hospitality and ability to connect with other individuals coupled with dignity and respect
for others. Filipinos' pakikipagkapwa-tao or the ability to build social relations is
demonstrated in the Filipino's ability to empathize with others, in helpfulness and
generosity in times of need (pakikiramay), in the practice of bayanihan or mutual
assistance, and in the famous Filipino hospitality. This trait stems from the Filipinos
sense of justice and fairness (Filipino Personality and Their Behaviors, 2011)

2. Family Orientation. Filipinos possess a genuine anddeep love and concern for their
family which includes both their immediate and extended family members. For many
Filipinos, the family is part of our identity and the source of emotional and material
support to whom we should reciprocate with our sense of commitment and
responsibility.

3. Joy and Humor. Filipinos are known for their positive disposition and approach in life
coupled with a g good sense of humor. These positive traits make up the indomitable
spirit of the Filipinos during adversities.

4. Flexibility, Adaptability and Creativity. Filipinos have a great capacity to adjust and
adapt to their circumstances and the surrounding environment, hence the alliteration to
the phrase "pliant like a bamboo." The Filipinos are known for their ability to adjust and
use their creativity to weather any challenges or uncertainty which is apparent in their
actions and reactions to every situation they face.

5. Hard Work and Industry. Filipinos are one of the most hardworking individuals. This
can be observed in how they work, locally and abroad, in order to help their family and
improve the quality of their life. Others use their creativity, productivity, and
entrepreneurial spirit to rise above poverty.

6. Faith and Religiosity. Filipinos have a deep faith in the divine being regardless or our
religion. Our innate religiosity enables us to comprehend and genuinely accept reality in
the context of God's will and plan. Thus, tragedy and bad fortune are accepted and
viewed as a test of one's faith.
 7. Ability to Survive. Filipinos have an innate ability to adapt and ability to survive any
circumstances that come our way. This ability is coupled with our creativity to make
most of what is provided or available. This survival instinct is deeply related to optimism,
flexibility and adaptability, hard work and a deep faith in God. This trait is very apparent
in the millions of Filipinos who bravely live through and survive the harshest economic
and social circumstances.

Negative Traits of the Filipino

Despite the numerous positive traits of Filipinos which make us standout from the
others, there are also negative traits which should be mitigated or addressed as these has
negative effects to our decisions and actions. These traits are (Strengths and
Weaknesses of Filipino People, n.d.):

1. Extreme Personalism. Filipinos view the world in terms of personal relationships.

They based their judgement of value and importance based on these relationships and
connections which are greatly subjective in nature. More often than not, these personal
relationships, interpersonal Interpretations, and actions stem from their emotional
Involvement to another person or a group of persons. This translates in their ability to
take and accept both criticism and praise. Negatively, this trickles down into the manner
on how they conuct business and work.

2. Extreme Family Centeredness. While love for family is one of the Filipinos' strength,
it is also a weakness as love and devotion for famly clouds their judgement and
decisions. This can sometimes be detrimental to community or the common good.

3. Lack of Discipline. The Filipino's lack of discipline several encompasses related

characteristics as aversion following rules, poor time management procrastination,
inability to delay gratification, and compulsiveness. This stems from the casual and
relaxed attitude of the Filipinos. Our inability to delay gratification or reward results to
the use of shortcuts, in skirting the rules (the palusot syndrome), and in foolhardiness.
Filipinos have also the tendency to be ningas cogon or starting out projects with full
vigor and interest w/c abruptly die down leaving things unfinished.

4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative. Filipinos are generally passive and lacking in
initiative because of our reliance to our strong faith and belief in fate. As such, Filipinos
are complacent and tend to rely or depend on others such as our leaders to make things
happen. Filipinos have a need for a strong authority figure and feel safer and more
secure in the presence of such an authority.

5. Kanya-Kanya Syndrome. Filipinos have a selfish, self- serving attitude that generates
a feeling of envy and competitiveness toward others, particularly one's peers who seem
to have gained some status or prestige. This is also a display of crab mentality that is
prevalent among Filipinos, using intrigues and misinformation to damage the reputation
of other individuals perceived to be higher than them. There Seems to be a basic
assumption that another's gain is one's loss.

6. Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection. There is a tendency among Filipinos to

be superficial and flighty. In the face of serious problems, both personal and social,
there is lack of analysis or reflection in order to validate and make conclusive decisions
or actions.
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Impact of Filipino Traits on PNP Ethics and Values Formation Program:

The collective traits of a nation greatly impact the systems that operate it. Hence, both
the positive and the negative traits have direct or indirect effects to the policing system of the
country. These impacts are:

 Filipinos person-oriented trait and emphasis on the importance of family relationship

clouds the police officer's judgement as well as the treatment of the individuals. In this
case, the officer may show fairness to those who have personal or professional
connections with them, whilst unfair to others. This can also led to disregard of rules to
favor and maintain relationships.
 The Filipinos' family orientation is both a strength and a weakness giving the officer a
sense of rootedness and security. However, it also breeds a sense of in-group orientation
that prevents from reaching out or seeing beyond the family that will benefit the larger
community and the nation.
 The Filipinos' flexibility, adaptability, and creativity allow us to adjust to any set of
circumstances and to make the best of the situation. However, this also results to the
attitude of "playing it by the ear where precision and discipline in accomplishing tasks
are compromised.
 The Filipinos' positivity and humor during difficult times make life bearable. However,
there should be a balance between positivity and the need to take certain situations or
Concerns seriously.
 The Filipinos' religiosity and faith in the Divine Being are sources of strength and
courage, but also lead to an external orientation that, keeps us passive and dependent
on forces outside ourselves.
 The contradictions of pakikipagkapwa-tao, crab mentality, and the kanya-kanya
mentality living within all Filipinos.
 Filipinos are both other-oriented and capable of great empathy and yet self-serving,
envious of others, and unconstructively critical of one another.
 The Filipinos are both hard- working and lazy. indeed, we see that we are capable of
working long and hard at any job.
However, also apparent is our casual work ethics as well as our basic passivity, in the
work setting, waiting for orders and instructions rather than taking the initiative.