Lesson III

An Island Firestorm

If you were the official concern, what would you do after knowing the findings
of the chemist? How would show commitment to public interest in this case?

If I were the official on that event, after knowing the findings of the chemist about
the water that it has been contaminated with coliform (bacteria found in human
wastes) and knowing that it is not safe to swimming I will firstly close the beaches
temporarily. Then call a meeting to all of the owner of the establishment and
discuss the issue about the contamination of water. Their establishment will be
check if there is no issue and their documents shall be reviewed thoroughly. Upon
knowing that there are other establishments who don’t have a environmental
clearance and has violated the 23 conditions on sanitation, garbage, and water
disposal that the Agency for Environment and Natural Resources imposed for
tourism projects shall be investigated. I can show my commitment to public
interest by doing the right things on this situation. I will do the righteous way of
solving the problem and not by covering up or telling a lie to the public like the
government official deed in this event. I will arrange a session about the bad
effects of polluting our nature such as the water and all of the establishment owner
must attend and discipline their employees. Then I will report all of the officials
whom gave some establishments a permission to operate without environmental
clearance. The public security is the most important for us as a public servant.
They pay their taxes so we must serve them honestly.
Wanted: Dead Heroes

If you were in Rick’s shoes, how will you respond to the situation? Will you
allow Alonzo to pass through or not? Why and why not

When Alonzo an Army Colonel has been illegally cut an endangered tree which is
Nara (Pterocarpus Indicus) and when Rick informed Alonzo that it was unlawful to
cut trees without permission but Alonzo replied that it was to earn funds to bury
their dead comrades and give to their bereaved families. If I was Rick at that
situation I will not allow Alonzo to past through and upon hearing his reason it is
too unreasonable because from what I know an Army or Military has a burial
allowance given by the government. Knowing that we are outnumbered and our
life is at risk, I will calm my self and ask my men to ask a backup from a nearest
Police Station while I will get there attention so that they won’t notice my plan
until the backup has arrived and Alonzo will be arrested. And if ever Alonzo insist
to leave while the backup hasn’t arrive I will report him to his superior officer and
ask assistance to the police to pursuit Alonzo.
What else can I do?

Do you agree with Glenda? Why? Is whistle blowing to the media acceptable
as whistle blowing to an elected national official?

I agree on the decision of Glenda because a government employee should uphold

the public interest over and above personal interest. A public officials and
employees shall remain true to the people at all times. If Glenda allow the ACME
mining company to start an open pit mining without following the guidelines for
acquiring a permit, once the project expose hazard to the surrounding community
or environment the people will be angry and complain to the government. If the
higher officials from the government request an investigation and they found out
something happen during acquiring permit the employees and officials whom give
the ACME a permit will be punish. Glenda is right for not agreeing to his superior
for allowing ACME to mine. She can report it to Senator Enriquez for he is the
Chairman of Committee on Environment and Natural Resources or report it to the
media.

I think whistle blowing to the media is acceptable if the information is true and
legit and if the official reported is corrupt and not prioritizing the public interest.
Public officials and employees shall always be true to the people so that the people
will be at ease and trust the government completely.
Pick Me Up

If you are in Ronnie’s shows, what would you do?

In this case the title was awarded to Ms. Santos immediately because Ronnie de
Guzman did his job promptly and effectively. He did his job excellently without
demanding anything like money to Ms. Santos. Therefore the envelope of crisp
money left by Ms. Santos to Ronnie de Guzman as token of appreciation and debt
of gratitude is cannot be considered as bribery. But if I were Ronnie de Guzman, I
will follow Mrs. Santos and return the envelope then tell her that there is no need
for such token because I just did my duties as a public servant. But if she insist it or
if I can’t find her then I will just accept it as a token of gratitude for doing my job
effectively and giving her satisfaction. Gift giving is normal and part of our
culture. Being a public or government employee you can accept gifts only that are
nominal and without ill intentions.
Bring Home Office Goddie

Which side would you take? Cynthia’s side or Mely’s? Why?

I would take Cynthia's side because basically it's stealing. If Emy was bringing
home office supplies because she's going to work at home then there's no problem
with that, but bringing home office supplies because of personal matters then it is
morally wrong because the government spent millions of money just to provide
those each year and employees must use it in a proper way. Taking stuffs that does
not belong to you is obviously wrong even it isn't a capital crime but of course it's
not ethical.
More than Just Casinos

What can you say about this? Is something legal also automatically moral?
What do you think?

Legal is not automatically moral. There are some legal acts that we believe to be
immoral, and some laws to be unjust. On the other hands there are law embodies
many moral percepts. Legal prohibitions incorporate most of our ordinary moral
rules such as those against lying, killing, cheating, raping and stealing. This
suggest that there are connection between legal and moral.

In this case PAGCOR, like Lotto and sweepstakes, also symbolize gambling. Is
considered legal because the government allowed it and the revenues remitted to
the government helps a lot in social projects like building a school, helping
typhoon victims and other social projects to help needy people. On the other hand
it is immoral or unjust because gambling is a social ill. Because of gambling, some
families are torn apart and lives are broken.
I Can Afford Anyway

If you were this employee, would you agree with her opinion regarding the
CSC’s dress code?

I wouldn’t agree on her opinion regarding the CSC’s dress code. As a government
employee it is her job to follow the law. The law government employees and their
families shall not indulge on displaying extravagant wealth at any form. Although
she can afford to buy expensive jewelries, it is not proper to wear it just for
reporting at work. It may be used on other occasions and gathering. Showing to
much wealth will put a bad image to the public. The public trust to the government
may decrease. So to maintain a good image, the public servant or government
employee must always follow the CSC ‘s dress code.
Gifts Galore

Who do you think between Adora and Josie is right? Why?

Gift giving is normal, it is in our culture to give present to others. It is an act that
gives happiness to the receiver regardless of the amount of the gift given. It is an
act appreciated by anybody. Gift giving is not wrong. Under RA 6713, there is rule
that government employees cab accept gifts that are nominal or insignificant.
Between Adora and Josie, I think Josie is right if Adora will accept all the gift and
sum it up from the beginning then it is no longer nominal. Adora should not accept
all of the gift given by her clients. She could just tell to her clients that she was
happy that she was able to satisfy their needs on her. Refusing a token doesn’t
mean an insult to the clients rather they will praise you for doing a great job and
being a humble person.
For Official Use Also

If you happen to chance upon a government service vehicle parked in places

where you least expect a government official may transact business with, what
will you do? Will you take him to report the incident to the Ombudsman? If
not, what will you do? Why?

If I happen to chance upon a government service vehicle parked in places where

you least expect a government official may transact business with, I will firstly
think and observe the reason for him/her being there. It might be the vehicle is
parked at that place for him/her to lunch or dine after a business transaction which
is near that place. If happen that I see it thrice then I will go to that place and
confirm what he/she is doing at that place. If I confirm that he/she is in that place
for personal interest then I will report it to the Ombudsman. It is against the law to
use government vehicle for personal interest. The gasoline consumed by public
officials are charged to the government, which means that it came from the million
taxpayer. It came from the people who pay their taxes, so public officials must not
rob it or use it on their personal interest.
He Does, I Do

What do you think? Who is right, Roy or his boss?

A government employee official or not should always have the spirit of

professionalism by attending work on time. It is very embarrassing for being late
all the time. Imagine that the client is early than the employee, it is too
embarrassing. The reputation of government will get worse. A government
employee should always act professional and have a commitment to public
interest. In this situation, the boss is wrong for saying that Roy should wait until he
become a boss so that there will be no deduction on Roy’s leave credit. The law
did not say that there are exemption for deducting leave credit for being late,
officials or not if they are late there are deductions. Mr. Sanchez as a boss should
be a roll model to his employees. To avoid complaints to the clients a government
employee or officials should always come on work on time.