PNP submits to Duterte's better wisdom on cop ‘gifts’

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday agreed with President Rodrigo Duterte's pronouncement that police officers were free to accept gifts from generous benefactors.

"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," PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in a statement.

Banac, however, said that there was no need for the public to offer the PNP gifts as police officers were just doing their jobs, and that they were salaried through Filipino taxes.

"But in many occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, we find that food items are just delivered from anonymous senders and the grateful public," the PNP spokesman explained.

"So instead of letting them get spoiled, we distribute them to the inmates in cells and the barangay tanods and volunteers."

The PNP spokesperson also explained that police officers remained bound by rules of conduct.

"RA 6713 strictly requires our adherence to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for government officials and employees," Banac said. "Our intensified campaign on internal cleansing is ongoing and we will never hesitate to investigate and charge PNP personnel found doing illegal acts."

On Friday, Duterte said that cops could receive gifts from generous and thankful benefactors. 

“Kung bigyan kayo tanggapin n’yo. It is not bribery... What I mean is if there is generosity in them. Sabi ng anti-graft you cannot accept gifts. Kalokohan,” Duterte said in his speech before commanders and police officers of the PNP. — John Ted Cordero/DVM, GMA News