 PHILOSOPHICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ETHICS

 APPLICATION OF BEHAVIORAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS: INTERROGATION

APPROACHES
 PRESIDENT AND TRUTHFULNESS
 INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND CITIZENS ON POLITICIANS

A Narrative Report Presented to the Faculty

of the College of Accountancy, Business, Economics
and International Hospitality Management – Graduate School
Batangas State University
Batangas City

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the Subject
PA 603 Ethical Challenges in Public Management

Submitted to:
DR. CORA M. DALANGIN

By:
EnP MARY ANN E. ANTENOR, MPA

December 2019
 PHILOSOPHICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ETHICS/ APPLICATION OF BEHAVIORAL AND
PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS: INTERROGATION APPROACHES/ PRESIDENT AND TRUTHFULNESS/
INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND CITIZENS ON POLITICIANS

NARRATIVE REPORT

By:
EnP MARY ANN E. ANTENOR, MPA
Doctor of Public Administration, Student

TOPIC 1: PHILOSOPHICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ETHICS

Philosophical Ethics have various characteriestics as have mentioned in the previous topics
discussed by some of my co-reporters and these include: 1) conducts an analysis of moral concepts, ethical
justification, and the meaning of moral language (meta-ethics); 2) describes ethical behavior among various
people and in various cultures (descriptive); 3) contemplates the norms, standards, or criteria that serve as
theories or principles for ethical behavior (normative) and 4) applies normative theories to particular ethical
problems (applied). This ethics also have some assumptions like it assumes that humans are basically
good, and can be more ethical, reason is a sufficient basis for developing ethics, and humans are
accountable only to other humans.

On the other hand, when it comes to behavioral ethics, it Conform to moral and professional
principles; studies why people make the ethical (and unethical) decisions; examines how we make
moral decisions and offers insights into how we can be our best selves and some behavioral ethics
include framing, role morality, and self-serving bias.

TOPIC 2: APPLICATION OF BEHAVIORAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ETHICS: INTERROGATION

APPROACHES
Recent research has led to an emerging scientific consensus about best practices in interrogation.
Government agencies in some developing countries have begun to train personnel in rapport-based
interrogation methods that are practical and moral improvements on older methods that seek to overcome the
interrogee's emotional pressure or trickery. Interrogation techniques can be largely arranged on a spectrum
from the most harsh, and, as it happens, least effective techniques, at one end of the spectrum, to the least
harsh and most effective at the other end.
The conversation will presuppose interrogations targeting potential criminals, including terrorists or
other unlawful militants, referring to them as suspects, to the exclusion of conventional combatants or irregular
militants complying with the law of war
Interrogation ethics can be thought of as a triangular balancing of the interests and rights of three
stake-holding groups: the community at large (including potential victims of crime), interrogators, and
suspects. Members of a political entity have collective rights to security and justice as well as a collective
responsibility to work toward both ends.
The term "torture" means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental,
is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information
or a confession. In some religious organizations, they have their own manifestations about this torture. Just
like a moral issue of torture according to National Religious Campaign Against Torture, as quoted:
“Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions hold dear. It
degrades everyone involved -- policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's
most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and
morally intolerable.”
It is also included in the discussion some of the distinct approaches to interrogation. It
includes Coercive interrogation, or torture, seeks to destroy or overcome the suspect’s will, through various
physical or psychological measures. On one model, interrogatory torture may be applied to create an incentive
for the suspect to cooperate that is so urgent as to overwhelm his desire to keep his secrets. Secondly,
Confession-based non-coercive interrogation techniques, widely practiced by American law enforcement
agencies, are designed to overwhelm a suspect’s will, to resist confession through emotional pressure or to
make confession seem like the only rational response to the information the interrogator presents; Thirdly, the
information-gathering model sees the goal of interrogation as developing an accurate understanding of the
event in question, rather than garnering a confession. To that end, the model draws on techniques also used
to help crime witnesses or victims accurately recall details of an incident in order to encourage a suspect to
present his version of events. Lastly, Strategic interviewing takes into account that both interrogator and
suspect (be he innocent or guilty) are engaging in certain strategies in an interrogation—and so, the suspect
is in a different frame of mind than that of a witness trying to recall details of a crime. Strategic interviewing
shares a basic approach with information-based methods in that the suspect is invited to narrate his account
of the incident in question, but the interrogator then engages in certain behaviors that will prompt dishonest
suspects to give away flagrant indications of their deception.

TOPIC 3. PRESIDENT AND TRUTHFULNESS

It is still a puzzle why President Duterte took issue on this truthfulness when he himself admitted in
public that he really accommodates those whom he has “utang na loob”.
What is worrisome is the President’s oft-repeated justification that ex-military and police officials are
better than civil servants because they don’t argue nor debate orders on them. They are mission-oriented and
just do what they are told, according to him. Ergo, the Commander-in-chief only wants “Yes” men to surround
the circle.

Gordon’s concern finds basis from President Duterte himself who keeps on telling us publicly about
possible military junta could take over from him or setting up a “revolutionary government” with him. The
presidential warning even comes with a dare to officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to just come to Malacañang if anyone of them wants to take over the
helm of the government.

In this way, the President keeps pointing out, there won’t be any need to launch bloody coup attempt
against him. It would be a peaceful transfer of power and will not cause any bloody battle between Filipinos,
President Duterte would always add. Truth hurts, I must say. But perhaps, the President just woke up on the
wrong side of the bed.

TOPIC 4. INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND CITIZENS ON POLITICIANS

Today, the Philippines has become the most “social nation” in the world. With 41 million active
Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 65, netizens could very well swing the tide in this election, which
many are calling the country’s first “social media” election.

For millennials, social media is the lifeline of information (or misinformation). Social media can
provide free advertisement, highlight important advocacy work, make speeches and statements readily
available, and help candidates promote their campaign messages widely and freely. In that sense, it can be
seen as democratizing the electoral process. Except, that’s not what always happens.

One of the ways that social media has transformed politics is the sheer speed at which news, poll
results and rumors are shared. Not only do social media sites report the results of polls, you can actually
participate in Facebook polls. One of the positive effects that social media has on politics is the opportunity
for voters to interact more easily with candidates and elected officials. In the age of social media, politicians
and people running for office are able to target their campaigns. If a candidate wants to address the concerns
of women, college students, retired people, Latinos or any other group of voters, they can now tailor their
messages. Political campaigns are now influenced by every story, whether true or not, that gets spread around
social media. One of the hidden forces that operates on social media is confirmation bias. This is especially
powerful when it comes to controversial topics, including politics. If you’re like most people, the majority of
your friends and followers on social media probably share your outlook

For better or for worse, social media can also create an obsessive focus on one or two issues,
magnify candidates’ warts and pores, poke fun at their looks or voices, amplify a misstep, an insensitive
remark, expose a prejudice or bias – and all for all the world to see and hear in real time without delay.

CONCLUSIONS
Philosophical ethics provides justifications that must be applicable to all people regardless, of their
religious starting points, which means it seeks foundations that all reasonable people can accept, regardless
of their religious convictions. While, Ethical Behavior is about doing what is accepted as "good" and "right" as
opposed to "bad" and "wrong" in the context of the governing moral conduct.
The truthfulness of our President in his words, correlates with his actions. For the sake of democracy,
we must take action to solidify basic norms of decency and transparency in our government. We can start
with the modest step of demanding a truthfulness not only from all future presidential candidates, officials,
and the like but most specially within ourselves.
Because social media is relatively new, we’re just starting to see its impact on society. There are
sure to be many political changes that come about due to social media. There are now proposals for internet
voting, which could lead to more people participating in elections. This could make social media even more
influential, as people could literally vote moments after reading the latest comments or links they found on the
internet.