Prioritizing Personal Interest: A Conflict of Interest in the Government

Some of our government officials and employees have neglected their oath of public service at the time of their appointment in the government and have stained their integrity for public trust by engaging in activities that create a conflict of interest.

A picture of a government officer playing solitaire in her desktop while there is a queue of people waiting to be served outside of her office has become viral lately in social media.  

This is a frustrating scenario for the people patiently waiting outside of the government-officer’s window. These people may have to come early and endure a long time of waiting unaware that the officer who should be dealing with their transactions is busy with her recreational activity and not doing her duty as a public officer by serving government’s people above her personal interest. I also did experience the same scenario when I was applying for a replacement of a government identification card (ID) and then the personnel at that government office said that they cannot process my request because it was already their lunch time and I should go back by 1PM for the ID replacement. Ha? It was only 11AM? Lunch time should be at 12 noon. Surprisingly, when I came back at this office by 1PM, the said government personnel was at his siesta time. This made me sick of the realization that some of government employees are not serious in doing public service because they are not mindful of the promise of “public office is a public trustEand that they are paid to do so.

Section 1 of Article XI- Accountability of Public Officers states that:

“Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with outmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives."

The above accountability statement should be kept in mind at the time a government employee receives his letter of appointment to office and he/she should take an oath to be accountable to the people of the government and whenever he/she committed an act violating the statement of accountability creates a scenario of conflict of interest between the interest of the government against the vested interest of the government employee. Conflict of interest arises when an employee in a certain job have an interest that might motivate them to do that job in a way that may not be in the best interests of the firm (Velasquez, 2006).  

In addition, Section 4-Norms of Public officials and employees of Republic Act No. 6713 declares that every public official and employee shall observe the following as standards of personal conduct in the discharge and execution of official duties:

(a) Commitment to public interest. - Public officials and employees shall always uphold the public interest over and above personal interest. All government resources and powers of their respective offices must be employed and used efficiently, effectively, honestly and economically, particularly to avoid wastage in public funds and revenues.

(b) Professionalism. - Public officials and employees shall perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence and skill. They shall enter public service with utmost devotion and dedication to duty. They shall endeavor to discourage wrong perceptions of their roles as dispensers or peddlers of undue patronage.

(c) Justness and sincerity. - Public officials and employees shall remain true to the people at all times. They must act with justness and sincerity and shall not discriminate against anyone, especially the poor and the underprivileged. They shall at all times respect the rights of others, and shall refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public safety and public interest. They shall not dispense or extend undue favors on account of their office to their relatives whether by consanguinity or affinity except with respect to appointments of such relatives to positions considered strictly confidential or as members of their personal staff whose terms are coterminous with theirs.

(d) Political neutrality. - Public officials and employees shall provide service to everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference.

(e) Responsiveness to the public. - Public officials and employees shall extend prompt, courteous, and adequate service to the public. Unless otherwise provided by law or when required by the public interest, public officials and employees shall provide information of their policies and procedures in clear and understandable language, ensure openness of information, public consultations and hearings whenever appropriate, encourage suggestions, simplify and systematize policy, rules and procedures, avoid red tape and develop an understanding and appreciation of the socio-economic conditions prevailing in the country, especially in the depressed rural and urban areas.

So why those government officers and employees still afford to do such acts that contradict their public duty and still continue to prioritize their personal interest against public interest? Perhaps there is really a lack of commitment for public service among those people and they thought that such practice is acceptable in our society because people tolerate it and do not implement sanctions to stop such acts. I think our country could have been a better place to live, when every government officers and employees could see the impact of their work and adhere to their oath of public service and work ethics.