CRIM 104 – UNIT II

“Professional Regulation
Commission oath; Professional
Conduct and Ethical Standards"
 I. INTRODUCTION

A. Overview of the Professional Regulation

Commission (PRC)
The Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) is a government agency in the Philippines
responsible for regulating and licensing
professionals in various fields. The PRC was
created in 1979 by Presidential Decree No. 1566, as
amended by Executive Order No. 947. The PRC's
mission is to "protect the public interest by ensuring
that only competent, ethical, and well-qualified
professionals practice their respective professions."
 B. Significance of the PRC oath and Professional
Conduct and Ethical Standards

The PRC oath and Professional Conduct and Ethical

Standards are important for several reasons:
1. They set a high standard of conduct for licensed
professionals.
2. They help to protect the public from harm by
ensuring that professionals are competent and
ethical.
3. They promote professionalism and trust within
the professions.
 II. THE PRC OATH

The PRC oath is a pledge that all licensed

professionals must take before they can practice
their profession. The oath is as follows:
Preamble
I, [your name], do solemnly swear that I will
uphold the dignity and honor of my profession, that
I will be honest and faithful in my service to the
public, that I will not use my knowledge and skills
for personal gain or to injure others, and that I will
abide by the Code of Ethics of my profession.
 III. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS

Professional Conduct and Ethical

Standards are the rules and guidelines
that govern the behavior of licensed
professionals. These standards are based
on the principles of the PRC oath and are
designed to protect the public and to
promote professionalism within the
professions.
 A. PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

The Principles of Professional Conduct are the

core values that should guide the behavior of all
licensed professionals. These principles are:
1. Service to others: Placing the welfare of others
above personal interests
Example:
A doctor who refuses to treat a patient because the
patient cannot afford to pay.
A lawyer who fails to represent a client zealously
because the client is unpopular.
 A. PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

2. Integrity and objectivity: Adhering to

honesty, fairness, and impartiality
Example:
An engineer who falsifies test results in
order to get a project approved.
A teacher who gives a student a passing
grade in exchange for a bribe.
 A. PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

3. Professional competence: Maintaining a

high level of knowledge and skills
Example:
A nurse who administers the wrong medication
to a patient.
An architect who designs a building that
collapses because it was not properly constructed.
 A. PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

4. Solidarity and teamwork: Collaborating

with colleagues for the benefit of society
Example:
A doctor who refuses to consult with other
doctors when treating a patient.
A lawyer who sabotages the work of other
lawyers in a law firm.
 A. PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

5. Social and civic responsibility:

Contributing to the betterment of the
community
Example:
A pharmacist who sells illegal drugs.
An accountant who helps a client evade
taxes.
 B. SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT GUIDELINES

In addition to the Principles of

Professional Conduct, there are also a number
of specific guidelines that govern the behavior
of licensed professionals. These guidelines are
designed to provide more detailed guidance
on how to apply the principles of professional
conduct in specific situations. Some of the
most important guidelines include:
1. Respect for law and regulations:
Complying with all applicable
laws and regulations
A doctor who performs an
abortion without the patient's
consent.
A lawyer who counsels a client to
commit a crime.
2. Impartiality and non-discrimination:
Treating all individuals with fairness and
respect
Example:
A teacher who discriminates against a
student based on race, religion, or sexual
orientation.
A government employee who favors a
particular company when awarding a
contract.
3. Confidentiality: Protecting sensitive
information and maintaining privacy
Example:
A doctor who discloses a patient's
confidential medical information to a
third party without the patient's consent.
A lawyer who reveals the confidential
communications of a client.
4. Honesty and accuracy: Presenting
information truthfully and accurately
Example:
A pharmacist who mislabels a
prescription drug.
A real estate agent who makes false
statements about a property in order to
sell it.
5. Avoidance of conflicts of interest:
Recusing oneself from situations that may
involve personal gain
Example:
A government official who uses their
position to enrich themselves or their
family.
A lawyer who represents both the buyer
and the seller in a real estate transaction.
C. ENFORCEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS

The PRC is responsible for enforcing the Professional

Conduct and Ethical Standards. This includes investigating
complaints against licensed professionals and imposing
disciplinary sanctions for violations of the standards. Some of
the disciplinary sanctions that the PRC may impose include:
Reprimand
Fine
Suspension from practice
Revocation of license
In addition to these penalties, licensed professionals who
violate the standards may also be subject to criminal
prosecution.
Another example that
is related to the law
enforcement agencies:
 VIOLATION OF IMPARTIALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION

Example: A police officer who uses

excessive force against a suspect because of
their race or ethnicity.

Penalty: The police officer could be

reprimanded, fined, suspended from duty, or
even fired. They could also face criminal
charges, such as assault or battery.
ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF VIOLATIONS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Planting evidence: A police officer who plants

evidence on a suspect in order to get them
convicted.
Coercing a confession: A police officer who
coerces a suspect into confessing to a crime
they did not commit.
Failing to intervene in misconduct: A police
officer who fails to intervene when they see
another officer engaging in misconduct.
 QUIZ

1. A pledge that all licensed professionals must take before they can
practice their profession –
2. What is the acronym of PRC?
3. When the PRC was created?
4. What law created the PRC, amended by Executive Order 947?
5 – 9. What are the principles of professional conduct?
10 – 14. What are the specific professional conduct guidelines?
15 – 18. What are the disciplinary sanctions that the PRC may
impose to the erring licensed professional?
19 – 20. Give at least 2 violations by law enforcer aside from the
given example in the discussion.
 ANSWER

1. PRC Oath
13. Honesty and accuracy
2. Professional Regulation
Commission 14. Avoidance conflict of
3. 1979 interest
4. PD 1566 15. Reprimand
5. Service to other
6. Integrity and Objectivity
16. Fine
7. Professional Competence 17. Suspension from
8. Solidarity and Teamwork practice
9. Social and civic responsibility 18. Revocation of License
10. Respect for Law and regulations
11. Impartiality and non-
discrimination
PHILIPPINE REGISTERED CRIMINOLOGISTS PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND
ETHICAL STANDARDS.