Policemen can accept gifts from people grateful for their service as well as venture into “video karera” (horse race on video) operations to earn extra income as long as they are not greedy, President Duterte said Friday.
The President found nothing irregular with such police behavior even after reminding the cops to keep their integrity intact and adhere to ethical and professional standards during the 118th Police Service anniversary celebration in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Duterte argued that people giving gifts to policemen after solving a crime does not constitute bribery or other violation of the law.
“Kung bigyan kayo, eh tanggapin ninyo. It is not bribery because – it cannot be bribery because it is allowed by law. What I mean if there is generosity in them, sabi ng anti-graft you cannot accept gifts. Kalokohan ‘yan,” he said.
“If you are able to solve a crime and the family would like to be generous to you or would nurture a feeling of gratitude for what you accomplish, then by all means, accept it,” he added.
Duterte also saw nothing wrong with cops getting involved in video karera gambling operations but cautioned them to curb their greed.
“‘Yung machine. ‘Di ba ‘yung karera na sa inyong AOR, inyo naman ‘yan. Wala man… T***… Wala akong pakialam. Sige, ibigay mo sa police. Eh hindi mo rin talaga mapigilan,” he said.
“Basta wala lang lokohan. If you are just content of maybe you want 50,000 and you are able to get something like 25 or 20, be content. Be – do not allow your greed to run away with all the – alam mo na, kalokohan. So ‘yan lang akin. Hindi ko kayo iipitin,” he said.
The President explained that he was letting police go into other businesses because he knows they are cash-strapped in taking care of their families. “Alam mo ‘yang police even sa pamilya nila hirap ‘yan. I know because I have been mayor for 23 years. I was a prosecutor for eight years,” he said.
The PNP leadership is discouraging the public from giving gifts to the policemen amid Duterte’s controversial statement which was deemed as tolerating cops from receiving gifts as a token for their services.
But PNP spokesman Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that there is really nothing wrong if some people would insist on giving gifts to policemen, particularly police officers.
“We submit to the better wisdom of our lawyer-President that it is harmless to receive gifts so long as there is no element of corruption involved and no oppression or abuse of authority is committed,” said Banac.
But as much as possible, Banac said they take the initiative of rejecting any gift outright since such tokens are unnecessary.
He said that as public servants, policemen are expected to assist to the people from all walks of life since it is their mandate and sworn duty.
“We always explain to the public that there is no need for them to give gifts as we are just doing our job and we get paid by the Filipino people through our salaries,” said Banac. (Genalyn Kabiling with a report from Aaron Recuenco)
