By Mario B. Casayuran
Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party (LP), warned on Monday the Duterte administration that members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) would only become more abusive and corrupt if they accept gifts for doing their duty from the public that they are sworn to protect.
Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan (Photo from Kiko Pangilinan website / kikopangilinan.com / MANILA BULLETIN)
‘’There will come a time when policemen will not act if there is no grease and the police will only side with the rich who can afford a lot of grease. Pity our countrymen, especially the poor, in this ‘Christmas gift-giving policy’,” Pangilinan said.
‘’To the police this is our call: Do not follow illegal orders from higher-ups,’’ he added.
The PNP also ordered its personnel not to accept gifts from the citizens they had served or helped, contrary to a recent statement of President Duterte.
After raising the monthly pay of PNP personnel to about P40,000 or a 100 percent increase over their old pay rate, President Duterte said policemen could accept gifts freely given by citizens after they had helped them or served them.