Professional Ethics, Conduct, and Human Rights
This domain tests character under pressure. Ethics questions are usually scenario traps where the 'efficient' answer is also the unlawful one.
The standards that apply
A private security officer is bound by the licensing law, the agency's code of conduct, and the employer's contract, but also by the Constitution, the Anti-Torture Act (RA 9745), RA 7438 on the rights of arrested persons, and the general criminal law on physical injuries and coercion. Other employees' misconduct never authorises yours.
Core duties
- Honesty in reporting, timekeeping, and handling of found property.
- Confidentiality about the client's operations, customers, and security arrangements.
- Sobriety and alertness on post; no sleeping, gambling, or drinking on duty.
- Proper uniform and identification, courtesy, and a neutral tone.
- No gifts, bribes, or 'fees' for letting an irregularity pass.
- No use of client property or authority for personal benefit.
Human rights in practice
Presumption of innocence; no degrading treatment; no punishment of a person you have restrained; respect for privacy of the person and of personal data under RA 10173; non-discrimination. A guard may restrain, but may not humiliate, strip-search without legal ground, or extort.
Worked example
A guard catches a woman stealing cosmetics and slaps her in the back room, threatening worse if she signs a confession. Several violations stack: physical injuries under the Revised Penal Code, possible violation of RA 9745 given the coercion for a statement, civil liability for damages, plus termination and licence action. The lawful path - restrain, no force beyond control, call police, write facts - would have exposed him to none of it.
Traps that cost marks
Assuming 'no one will believe a thief'; thinking ethics is soft content not tested; accepting a token of gratitude as harmless; punishing a detainee 'to teach a lesson'; posting incident photos online.