By Noreen Jazul
Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said he sees nothing wrong with police officers accepting gifts if these were given out of gratitude and goodwill, backing President Duterte's earlier statement.
Senator Roland Bato Dela Rosa (ALI VICOY/ MANILA BULLETIN)
"Hindi ko pagbabawalan na tumanggap kung iyan naman ay out of gratitude, out of pasasalamat, out of... yung bang...goodwill," Dela Rosa said in an interview with DZBB Monday.
"Yung sabi ni Presidente, wag natin i-take out of context. Ang sabi naman ni Presidente hindi niya binabawalan yung mga pulis na tumanggap kasi nangyayari naman talaga yan kahit ipagbawal mo yan, mangyayari yan at mangyayari," he added.
Dela Rosa admitted that he used to accept gratitude gifts when he was still a policeman.
"Tumanggap ako, meron kami na rescue na kidnap victim na bata , ngayon tuwang tuwa yung pamilya ng bata dahil nga na rescue namin yung anak nila, so pumunta sa station , nagdala ng pagkain, nag dala ng lechon. 'Sir, pakain ko po ito sa mga tropa niyo lalo na't pagod na pagod kayo, wala kayong tulog dahil nag-operate kayo'," Dela Rosa recalled.
"Anong gagawin ko? Sabihin ko 'hindi po, hindi namin yan kakainin, bawal po yan,' ano? Ano gagawin ko? Napaka hipokrito ko kung sinabi kong 'di ko tinaggap, tinanggap ko talaga," he added.
The former Philippine National Police chief (PNP) also cited another incident where a victim of robbery expressed his gratitude to police officers by providing printers to their station.
"Di yan hinihingi ng pulis kusang binibigay para makatulong sa trabaho ng pulis, ba't hindi namin tanggapin?" Dela Rosa said.
When asked if there's a need to amend Republic Act No. 6713, the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees", Dela Rosa said he doesn't see the need for it.
"Maliit na bagay para pagtuunan ng pansin. Mas marami tayong mabibigat na problema... 'yang regalo na yan it's happening everwhere, nasa kultura natin 'yan eh," the neophyte senator said.
Dela Rosa advised police officers to turn down the gifts 'out of decency,' unless the person giving the gift insists.
"Pagkabigay sa ‘yo ng whatever, ang sagot niyo is 'ma'am okay lang po, trabaho po namin 'yon, hindi po namin kailangan 'yan, salamat po sa alok ninyo'," the senator said.
"Pero kung mag insist 'sir bahala kayo kung tanggapin niyo o hindi, iwan ko po sa table etong t-shirt na dala ko,' alangan naman pulutin mo yung t-shirt, itapon mo sa kanya, 'ma'am bawal po yan'," he added.
Dela Rosa also warned police officers not to accept expensive gifts from persons with "shady character" who might be involved in illegal gambling or drugs.
The senator said he understands clearly why public officials should not accept gifts, but reiterated that receiving a piece of gratitude should not be taken the wrong way.
"Bawal talaga tumanggap ng regalo...para hindi magkakaroon ng conflic of interest, na hindi magagamit yung pwesto mo para sa pangungurakot...pero yun namang natulungan mo, tapos later nagpakain, bakit naman mamasamain," he said.
President Duterte, during the 118th Police Service anniversary celebration in Camp Crame Friday, said there is nothing wrong with policemen accepting gifts from people who they helped solve a crime for, adding that it is not a form of bribery.
“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,” the President 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 accomplished, then by all means, accept it,” Duterte added.
Read more: ‘Accepting gifts not bribery,’ Duterte reminds cops to keep integrity intact