Decline gifts from public — CSC

Amid the recent statement of President Rodrigo Duterte that police officers can accept items “given out of gratefulness or generosity,” the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Tuesday urged government officials and employees to decline gifts from the public.

In a radio interview, CSC commissioner Aileen Lizada stressed that the acceptance of gifts is a “prohibited transaction” except in three instances involving foreign governments — citing the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

She explained that under the said law, the three exceptions are gifts of nominal value given by foreign governments as a souvenir or mark of courtesy; grants like scholarship or medical treatment; and travel grant, including lodging and transportation allowance.

“Other than that, the giving of gifts under the law is prohibited,” said Lizada, who also cited the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts “even on the occasion of a family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is under the circumstances manifestly excessive.”

To recall, a 1972 decree by then President Ferdinand Marcos also makes it “punishable for public officials to receive and private persons to give gifts on any occasion, including Christmas.”

Lizada noted that instead of gifts, the public can give government workers letters of thanks, which become part of their “201 file” used in considering their promotion.

“When you serve, your office should be beyond reproach, beyond suspicion so don’t accept gifts. We are already paid when people file their respective income tax returns,” said Lizada. “A ‘thank you’ is enough for us.”

Previously, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said police officers can accept gifts of “nominal value” for as long as these are not “excessive,” while Senator Ronald de la Rosa admitted last week that he received gifts when he was still a policeman, saying it was part of Filipino culture.