Bato admits accepting gifts when he was still a police official

Senator Ronald dela Rosa admitted Monday that he too accepted gifts from grateful benefactors as he defended President Rodrigo Duterte from criticisms over his remark that gifts are not bribe so police officers may take it.

“Praktikal na tao lang si Presidente at ako ay praktikal din. Inaamin ko tumanggap din ako noon,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV.

The senator served as a police official in Davao City when Duterte was a mayor there. He was named PNP chief when Duterte assumed the presidency in June 2016.  He retired in 2018.

In the radio interview, Dela Rosa said that at the time, he and his men were able to successfully rescue a kidnap victim so the family of the minor went to their station and brought food, including lechon. He said he accepted it.

“Anong gagawin ko? Sabihin ko hindi po hindi namin kakain bawal po ‘yan. Napakaipokrito ko ’pag sinabi kong hindi ko tinanggap,” he said.

Another instance, he said, was when they were able to solve a robbery incident and arrest the suspects, the victim went to their office and offered to replace their faulty office printer.

“Hindi ‘yan hinihingi ng pulis, kusang binibigay at tulong sa trabaho ng pulis bakit hindi namin tanggapin,” he said.

Asked if he received a personal gift, Dela Rosa said someone gave him a high-end shirt and he accepted it.

“Huwag tayong magkunwari, huwag tayong magbalatkayo na hindi tayo tumatanggap. Lacoste na t-shirt tinanggap ko. Nasa kultura natin ‘yan e,” he said.

He also recalled that his riding and shooting friend once gave him a watch bought in the United States.

“Pumunta siya sa Amerika, nakakita siya ng relo na bagay sa  personality ko. Marvel, ‘yung may markang bungo binili ng kaibigan ko. Pag-uwi niya dito sabi bagay sa’yo ‘yan,” he said.

‘Inggitero’

The senator also called those who made an issue when he joined the team of Senator Manny Pacquiao during his fight in Las Vegas as ‘inggitero.’

“Mga inggitero lang ‘yung mga tao na ‘yan. Naiinggit lang ‘yun,” he said.

Dela Rosa, however, does not see the need to amend laws such as Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“I don’t feel the need. Kaliit na bagay n’yan para pagtuunan ng pansin. Maliit na bagay ang regalo, it is happening anywhere, everywhere. Nasa kultura natin ‘yan e,” he said.

But he said the police should be wary of the possible conflict of interest that may arise.

“Very clear sa akin ‘yung batas sa Anti-Graft na bawal tumanggap ng regalo dahil ang spirit ng batas is para hindi magkaroon gng conflict of interest, hindi magamit ang pwesto sa pangungurakot. Later on babalikan ka nyan at hingan pa ng pabor baka hindi ka na makahindi,” he said.

“Pero ‘yung natulungan mo, pinapakain ka bakit mo masamain. Nasa kultura natin ‘yan. Hindi ako ipokrito,” he added.

He further said receiving gifts from person known to be connected with illegal activities is another matter.

“Kung nakita mo bigyan ka ng relo, ang nagbigay financier ng illegal gambling o kaya well known character na  involved sa droga e bakit mo tatanggapin ‘yan. Delikado. Matatali ka, magkakaroon ng conflcit sa interest. Tumanggap ka alam mo galing sa ilegalista, ibang usapan yun,” he said.

‘Insatiable greed’

Senator Panfilo Lacson, also a former PNP chief, said receiving gifts may start off “insatiable greed” among cops.

“Mr. President, insatiable greed starts with simple, petty graft. It could be more addicting than drugs. There is no detox, nor is there rehab facility available for addiction to money,” Lacson said in a Twitter post Saturday.

Civil Service Commission (CSC) Commissioner Aileen Lizada said RA 6713 prohibits public officials from soliciting or accepting gifts directly or indirectly. 

She added Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2016-002 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that prohibits cops from receiving gifts.

Under Section 1 Item 3 of the MC, it is considered as grave misconduct when cops receive a fee, gift, or other valuable things in the course of official duties or in connection therewith when such fee, gift or thing is given with the hope or expectation of receiving a favor or better treatment, Lizada said.

Video karera

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, frowned on police involvement in video karera operations. He said the President was just joking when he mentioned it.

“Ilegal ‘yan. ‘Yung  sinabi ni Presidente ginawa para pampatawa, laughing stock ang pulis kasi he grew up with the police. Alam niya ang kalokohan ng mga pulis kaya ginagawa niyang joke palagi ang pulis,” he said.

During the 118th anniversary of the Police Service anniversary, Duterte said he did not care if officers earned from the video karera in their area of responsibility.

“‘Yang karera sa inyong AOR,  inyo naman ‘yan, wala akong pakialam. Sige ibigay mo sa pulis. Hindi mo rin talaga mapigilan. Alam mo 'yang pulis, even sa pamilya nila hirap ‘yan,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News