BON CARLO M.

MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #1. An Island Firestorm

The case is all about the development of a beautiful island discovered in 1970’s wherein during
the developmental phase of the island approximately 26 years (from 1970 to 1996) have caused
many problems such as (1) solid and liquid waste disposal, (2) ground and drinking water were
contaminated, (3) the sea became unsafe, and others. This is an alarming issue not only to the
local public officials but as well as to the national public officials, considering that it could
possibly mirror the totality of the country (in terms of sanity, health, and development) and its
impact to the overall economic welfare (considering that it is a tourist spot).

For me, government cover-ups to what is really happening is somewhat of a necessity because
as a public servant, we would always look into the means to where we could boost the
economic growth. However, every cover-up should always have solution to the problems. In
the case, there are really lapses on the public officials, to wit:
(1) 97% of the resorts have no environmental clearance;
(2) 91% imposed for tourism projects on conditions on sanitation, garbage and water
disposal that the Agency for Environment and Natural Resources were violated;
(3) Late verification of water samples.

These things could have been avoided only if sincerity and commitment to public interest is
applied from the very start. If I were the official concern (I am referring to the Local
Government Unit), I would implement the following:
(1) No Environmental and Other Public Clearances, No Business;
(2) Health and Sanitation would be my priority by conducting seminars on commitment to
public interest (locals, businessman, land owners, and others), proper waste disposal
and the importance of boiling water before drinking;
(3) Monthly or as necessary monitoring of water samples; and
(4) Call/Reprimand Public Servants who neglect their duties to the common welfare of the
public.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #2. Wanted: Dead Heroes

The case is all about an unlawful act of cutting trees from an allegedly Army Colonel in the
name of Alonzo who is being inspected by the assigned forest guard in the area in the name of
Rick. Responding to the actual scenario is not easy, considering that it is your life and the lives
of your comrades are at stake. Therefore, I will consider first the following facts:
(1) Alonzo claims that he is an Army Colonel, if he is an Army Colonel which means he is a
military public servant, it would be questionable why is it that he does not know the
DENR campaigns to curb illegal logging and the law that is attached to it;
(2) Why is it that infantry trucks were used in transporting the illegally cut trees, would it
not be doubtful that the property of those who initiated the law are the ones used in the
illegal actions, there could be this possibility that it is embezzled by the illegal loggers;
(3) The infantry truck was commandeered by fully armored uniformed men, why is that so?
And the team of Rick were outnumbered;
(4) Is it the role of the government to bury the armies who were killed during the operations
and the ones to give subsidy to their bereaved families, why would Alonzo waste his
time in cutting trees rather than focusing on the peace and order of the country?

Thus, if I were in Rick’s shoes, I would respond to the situation as follows:

(1) I should implement what is being stated in the law, for there is no one who is above the
law, I will ask for the pertinent documents to support their act telling them that this is
just an SOP as the in-charge, Proper negotiation may do the task easier;
(2) And if ever they insist, it is also my responsibility to protect my team from any harm,
thus I would let them pass through, however, I would silently get the plate numbers of
the infantry trucks used and remember their faces as much as possible get pictures of
them without noticing it;
(3) Report to the higher official the case that happened bringing all the facts and findings
and let them deal with it, and I will still ask for feedbacks regarding the matter.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #3. What Else Can I Do?

Whistle-blowing is not an easy act; it is an act of exposing misconduct, alleged dishonesty or

illegal activity occurring in an organization. The alleged misconduct may be classified in many
ways; for example, a violation of a law, rule, regulation and/or a direct threat to public interest,
such as fraud, health and safety violations, and corruption. Whistleblowers may make their
allegations internally (for example, to other people within the accused organization) or
externally (to regulators, law enforcement agencies, to the media or to groups concerned with
the issues). Whistle blowing to the media is different from whistle blowing to an elected
national official because of the primary reason of self interest which may be used for their own
sake.

I don’t agree with Glenda to go directly to Senator Enriquez, for the reason that she has no
substantial evidence yet to confirm the wrongdoings. What she has in hand are just the quickie
consultant report and the words from her Division Chief and still not recorded. Therefore, she
would just hang herself in the middle if she does that.

What I have in mind is that, she goes first to the office of the DENR who has the main right
about the issue. The DENR has the solution on the best thing to do with regards to this matter
and not the senators who would just use the issue for their own use.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #4. Pick Me Up

The case of Ronnie is normal in most of the government agencies considering that it is tempting
on the part of Ronnie considering that it would really help his family to meet their needs.
However, there are consequences in receiving such;
(1) You have already broke your pledge in the “Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno”
quoted “Hindi ako hihingi o tatanggap ng suhol”;
(2) The emotional consequence that you may dwell into it as another means of your income,
because once you have started it, you may be prone to it;
(3) A good and clean name is better than the money you receive;

Thus, I would locate her address and bring the money back to her and explain to her that it is
not necessary to give tokens for public servants considering that we as public servants were
already paid for it thru their taxes, it is our responsibility to serve them and I would tell her that
it would just make the heads of the public servants big if they would do such. But I would
really thank her for the appreciation and gratitude for my efficient work.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #5. Bring Home Office Goodies

This is another normal scenario in most government agencies especially to those agencies that
are provided with annual budget. As per principle, it is really not acceptable to bring home
office supplies considering that it is a mode of stealing to the government. However, Mely do
have a point when she cited that even their second level employees and division chiefs do the
same and the “kickbacks” from the government by the high government officials.

My stand in this case is that, it is better that even others do what is wrong; it is already a reward
for yourself by not doing such because you know that it is wrong. In my case, I even use
scratch papers just to help minimize the expenses of the office. Even in my own little way, I
could say that I have contributed something to the reduction of expenses of the government.

And another thing is that, unlike the private organizations in which they have “set the tone on
top” in which their employees follows what the managers do and implement. It is a matter of
setting the tone on top, if the heads of the agency, departments or divisions would apply such,
their subordinates would hesitate to do what is wrong because they could see what is right in
their heads which act as their role models.

In this case, I take the side of Cynthia.

BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #6. More Than Just Casinos

If something is legal it does not automatically implies that it is moral too. Legality and Morality
is two different things, we cannot connect one from the other automatically considering that
legal are those imposed by the society, more rigid, codified and punishment are prescribed for
violators whereas moral are those that are followed by the people because they believe it is right
and does not contradict to our conscience.

A sample of this legal vs moral scenario is the PAGCOR, it is legal in our land but it is not
acceptable in our morality considering that it is a form of gambling and as what the case have
mentioned gambling destroys family and it is considered as a social ill.

But let us broaden our mind to this matter, the lotto and sweepstakes have helped millions of
people in our country, therefore it is still good not considering that it is gambling. Gambling is
gambling we cannot deny such fact but have we considered that it destroy families because
even their finances budgeted for their primary needs are being gambled. So therefore, the
problem of morality is not anymore in the gambling but “on how you gamble”. If you gamble
more than what you can gamble that is already immorality because you have forsaken your
needs just to gamble. We must always consider that before we gamble make it sure that our
needs are met first and the extra monies are the ones available for gambling. Yes, gambling is
addicting, there is no other cure to that but to always think of yourself and your family’s needs.

The government could help in this issue by making TV advertisements that before you gamble
make it sure that your primary needs are met first. It could help more than millions of people
for this considering that they could open the minds of those poorest of the poor but still chose to
gamble and still make their corporate social responsibility.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #7. I Can Afford Anyway

Simple Living means that public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest
lives appropriate to their positions and income; they shall not indulge in extravagant or
ostentatious display of wealth in any form.

In this case, I don’t agree to the opinion of the employee regarding the CSC’s dress code,
considering the following facts:
(1) Even though your husband is an overseas worker and earn $500 a month but still the
employee earn PhP8,000 a month which cannot sustain the extravagant outfit;
(2) As a public servant, we mirror the government agency where we are employed, on the
way we dress, we converse, and we deal with the public. And it is just appropriate that
we must give dignity to our government agency because even if our co-employees
knows where we get those things but still there is the public that may think differently
on how we have get those things;
(3) As a public servant, we are bound of laws, rules, policies and regulation on the
prescribed dress code that is being administered by the CSC therefore we must comply
to that with due respect;
(4) As a public servant, we must be modest to the public considering that 70% lives below
poverty line, let us not make them to look themselves lower;
(5) And we are human beings created by God in His own image and likeness, let us not
make fun of ourselves by making our appearance like a “Christmas tree” as quoted in
the case.

I am not saying that we must dress like a beggar but let us dress as what is being prescribed.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #8. Gifts Galore

Gift giving is already a norm for us, Filipinos. But up to what extent gift giving should be
recognize as a kind act before it could be considered as taking advantage of the position?

Gift giving is a sign of gratitude and refusing a gift offered by somebody is already an insult.
We are given gift for appreciation of what we have done to others, but when it would be not
suitable to receive gift?

Republic Act No. 6713 Section 3.d

“"Receiving any gift" includes the act of accepting directly or indirectly, a gift from a person
other than a member of his family or relative as defined in this Act, even on the occasion of a
family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is neither nominal
nor insignificant, or the gift is given in anticipation of, or in exchange for, a favor.”

Josie is right, even though the law is not qualified in terms of nominal or insignificant, but still if
you are already receiving gifts which are not anymore unusual that makes it significant. And
also receiving gifts is not anymore ethical for a public servant considering that:
(1) As a public servant, you are already paid on the works that you are tasked to do;
(2) You are making a precedent that since you have receive gifts you cannot refuse on their
next favor to you;
(3) The Rules on Implementing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees states in Rule X Section 1.f “Soliciting or accepting, directly or
indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value
which in the course of his official duties or in connection with any operation being
regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of, his office.
The propriety or impropriety of the foregoing shall be determined by its value, kinship
or relationship between giver and receiver and the motivation. A thing of monetary
value is one which is evidently or manifestly excessive by its very nature.” can be
subjected for Administrative Disciplinary Actions.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #9. “For Official Use Also”

The Rules on Implementing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees states in Rule V Section 1.a “Commitment to public interest officials and employees
shall always uphold the public interest over personal interest. All government resources and
powers of their respective departments, offices and agencies must be employed and used
efficiently, effectively, honestly and economically, particularly to avoid wastage in public funds
and revenues.”

Let us be skeptic enough before we conclude that a government property is being used for
personal matters. We must first gather facts and documents before we file a case to the
Ombudsman considering that we are filing a complaint in behalf of the public. And if we don’t
possess substantial evidence, it will just boomerang to us and may release the accused public
official from a supposedly case against him/her.

And if it happens to reveal upon gathering substantial evidence that the accused public official
is really making use of government properties for his/her personal interest, I will first raise the
issue to the concerned personnel who happens to be higher than the one being accused, if there
are no actions or reprimand from the higher officer, I will then raised it to the Ombudsman for
appropriate actions because it is really a clear violation of the ethical standards as a government
officials.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

CASE STUDY #10. He Does, I Do

Quoted from Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, “Ako’y papasok nang maaga at

magtatrabaho nang lampas sa takdang oras kung kinakailangan.”

Both Mr. Sanchez, the Director, and Roy, a rank and file employee, have their somewhat
acceptable and unacceptable reasons for this case.
MR. SANCHEZ, The Director:
(1) As a Director of the Administrative Office, his work is 24/7 considering that he heads an
office and he is responsible to anything that happened to office;
(2) The car, gasoline and driver is not anymore a question, since it is a privilege given to
him as the head of an office considering the responsibility that is attached to his position;
(3) It is just practical not to deduct from their leave credits the number of minutes or hours
he is late, considering that anything that happens to the office that he holds will be
charged to him, and he could be dismissed from his position if something goes wrong to
his office and if he does not meet the needs of his clients;
(4) But I disagree when he said that wait until you become because as a boss you must
know the feeling of being a rank and file considering you have already experienced to be
one, thus you must be sensitive from it;
(5) Lastly, as a Director, he must be the one to set the tone on top, habitual tardiness is not a
good example to his subordinate, he must at least take extra ordinary steps to be an
example to his subordinates.

ROY, a rank and file employee:

(1) Roy could ask for an open flexi-time, if ever he could not come to the office by 8:15 a.m
provided that he must be present during the core hours from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m, he
could extend up to 6:00 p.m to meet the 40 hours requirement provided further that his
work will not hamper the agency’s commitment to serve the public;
(2) It is unethical to compare himself to his Director, considering the weight of
responsibility that they are taking;
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

(3) And lastly, his reasoning as to the location of his home to the office is irrelevant to the
case considering that some of public servants tend to rent a near-by apartment just to get
in-time in the office because we pledge it as public servant.

Insisting of whether who is right is not anymore an issue, just do what we must do to serve the
public and let us all meet in the middle without compromising public service.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

REFLECTION PAPER.

A public service is a public trust which is provided by government to people living within its
jurisdiction, the term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be
available to all, regardless of income. Even where public services are neither publicly provided
nor publicly financed, for social and political reasons they are usually subject to regulation
going beyond that applying to most economic sectors.

And in the Philippines, the norms of conduct for public officials and employees are covered by
Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees”. This code of ethics serves as the guide of every public servant in
serving and dealing with the public:
(1) Commitment to Public Interest – This means that all public servants must be committed
to uphold the public interest over and above their personal interest. This includes:
a. All government resources must be used effectively, efficiently, honestly and
economically;
b. The powers of the respective government offices must be exercised well and not
to be abused;
c. The decision should always be for the interest of the common good of the people;
and
d. We must always take good care of the government properties.
(2) Professionalism – This means that public servant should perform their duties
competently, proficiently and efficiently. This includes:
a. Someone must possess a specialized knowledge on the job he/she was hired for;
b. One must possess the skills and having techniques on how he/she could
complete a necessary task;
c. He/She must always look on the standard set to achieve work targets;
d. A public servant does not exist alone, therefore he must possess the spirit that
would empower the group in achieving its target and not a burden to it; and
e. There should be a supportive environment by all professionals to everyone.
BON CARLO M. MELOCOTON
Senior Accounting Processor A
Metro Midsayap Water District
007 Poblacion 8, Midsayap, Cotabato

(3) Political Neutrality – As a public servant, we shall be of service to everyone without

biases whether they are co-partido alliances. This means that we must be impartial and
objective in the exercise of our duties and responsibilities, we must not be affected by the
politicians so that we could not be in contrast whether who win during the election (this
is more applicable to those positions dealing with political elected leaders)
(4) Justness and Sincerity – We must be fair to all those who come to our agency and treat
them reasonably with sincerity. We must not choose who we want to deal with; we
must always remain true to the public at all times.
(5) Responsiveness to the Public – This means that our policies and procedures in dealing
with our client must be responsive to the needs of the public. We must be prompt and
adequate in serving the public. There must be less hassle on our clients when they go to
our offices. And lastly, we must be willing to hear their sentiments, suggestions on the
government operations.
(6) Nationalism and Patriotism – As a public servant, Filipino, and employed and
remunerated by the government of the Philippines, it is just and proper to give respect
and be loyal to it. These two words could also be connected on love for one’s country
and being proud of your homeland.
(7) Commitment to Democracy – As a public servant, we must always commit ourselves to
freedom, sovereignty, justice and human rights. We must always uphold that our
government is all about the supremacy of civilian authority. Without the people, a
government would not sustain its life and power. We must always envision ourselves
in having a noble, proud, free, just, independent and honorable nation.
(8) Simple Living – As a public servant, we mirror the government, our agency and our
office. What people sees on us, they tend to generalized it as if others are like what we
are especially on the way we act and appear to them. Simplicity is beauty and as a
government employee, we must always be simple in every way considering that 70% of
our population lives below poverty line, we must not let them feel that we are far
beyond them on our appearance. Let us just be simple and decent.