Do not flaunt wealth, stay simple, President tells gov’t officials

If public servants have Rolex watches and other luxury items, they better not flaunt their wealth while in office.

President Duterte Thursday urged prosecutors and other government officials to stay simple and not show off their wealth, saying he finds “corny” those wearing Rolex and precious jewelry at work.

Duterte instead encouraged government personnel to use their valuable items only after their retirement in government. His comments were made during the national convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines in Palawan Thursday.

“Kung ikaw ang prosecutor, ‘wag kang maggold-gold diyan. Masali ka sa taga-Customs (Prosecutors should not wear gold. You might be accused of being from the Customs bureau),” he said.

“‘ Wag kang mag- ano. Simple lang tayo (Don’t be like that. Let’s practice simplicity),” the former Davao City mayor said.

Duterte revealed that he once asked an official to remove his diamond-studded Rolex watch during a command conference. He said the official later claimed the watch was a gift from his wife.

“Ang galing mo ah. Isipin mo mga diyaman --- diamonds na… Napaka-corny niyan. You look corny, totoo ‘ yan (You’re good. Look at those diamonds. It is really corny. You look corny, that’s the truth),” he said.

“Kung meron man diyan, you wait until pag-retire mo pero ‘ wag mong gamitin ‘ yan (If you have them, you wait until you retire but don’t use them now),” he added.

He admitted that it can’t be avoided that some people give precious gifts to government officials. “Yan ang practice (That’s the practice),” he said.

But the President asked the officials to keep a simple lifestyle while in public service.