Accountability of

Public Officers
Josephine B. Moran
 Nature of Public Office
Public office is a public trust. Public officers and
employees must at all times be accountable to the
people, serve them with the utmost responsibility,
integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism
and justice, and lead modest lives. (Section 1 of
Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.)
 “Officer” as distinguished from “clerk” or “employee”,
refers to a person whose duties, not being of a clerical or
manual nature, involves the exercise of discretion in the
performance of the functions of the government. When used
with reference to a person having authority to do a particular
act or perform a particular function in the exercise of
governmental power,

“officer” includes any government employee, agent or body

having authority to do the act or exercise that function.
 “Employee”, when used with reference to a
person in the public service, includes any
person in the service of the government or any
of its agencies, divisions, subdivisions or
instrumentalities.
 Public Office
- a position of authority or service
involving responsibility to the public,
especially within the government.
- a building housing a government
department or agency or used for civic
business.
 Public Trust
- is the degree to which the public believes
that the profession and the professional will
act in a particular way that serves and
protects the public's interest.
- it is a social exchange of recognition and
empowerment for acting in society's best
interest .
 WHY TRUST IS IMPORTANT
● Trust is the foundation upon which the legitimacy of public
institutions is built and is crucial for maintaining social cohesion.
● Trust is important for the success of a wide range of public
policies that depend on behavioural responses from the public.
For example, public trust leads to greater compliance with
regulations and the tax system
● Trust is necessary to increase the confidence of investors and
consumers.
 WHAT DRIVES PUBLIC TRUST
IN GOVERNMENT
● The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) evidence shows that
government’s values, such as high levels of integrity,
fairness and openness of institutions are strong
predictors of public trust. Similarly, government’s
competence - its responsiveness and reliability in
delivering public services and anticipating new needs -
are crucial for boosting trust in institutions.
 5 POLICY DIMENSIONS INFLUENCING TRUST
IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

Responsiveness Reliability Integrity

01 Provide or regulate 02 Anticipate change, 03 Use power and
public services protect citizens public resources
ethically

Openness Fairness
04 Listen, consult, 05 Improve living
engage, and conditions for all
explain to citizens
“The best way to find yourself is to lose
yourself in the service of others.”

—MAHATMA GANDHI