Cops, public servants told: Reject excessive gifts
Policemen and other public servants should turn down excessive gifts such as a house and lot from donors especially if these are given in exchange for a favor, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo asserted that government personnel could only accept unsolicited gifts of small value as token of gratitude and given expecting nothing in return.
"As a general rule hindi dapat tumatanggap. Pero kung halimbawa man na hindi naman humingi, eh out of gratitude pinadalhan ka ng manok. O kaya ng pork and beans ano ba naman 'yun. Hanggang doon lang [As a general rule, they should not accept but for example, you did not ask for it and you were given a chicken, or pork and beans out of gratitude, what's wrong with that? That's how far it is]," he said in an interview with reporters at the Palace.
"Dapat hindi nila tatanggapin kung masyado naman malaki [They should not accept if the gifts are excessive],” he added.
Asked about the allowable amount of an unsolicited gift, Panelo said the anti-graft law states such token must be of nominal or insignificant value. He said while law does not specify the
exact amount, the gift must not be "too excessive."
Panelo also urged public servants to exercise discretion about accepting unsolicited gifts especially from the rich. He said the ultimate test is the gift must be not be given in anticipation or in exchange of a favor from a government official.
"Kung may birthday ka, 'yung regalo na pambirthday, regalo na pang wedding, ganun lang. Alam na natin yun [If it's your birthday, these could be birthday presents or wedding gifts. That sort of gifts. We all know that]," he added.
Asked if some gives a public servant a house and lot as birthday present, Panelo: "Malaki naman masyado ‘yun house and lot [A house and lot is already excessive]."
Panelo however pointed out that a billionaire might not consider some gifts such as a house as lavish.
"Now kung bilyonaryo ang magbibigay sa iyo, walang ano sa kanya 'yun napakaliit na bagay ‘yan [Now if the billionaire gifts the house to you, it's nothing to him, it's insignificant thing to him]. Pero what is important is hindi 'yun binigay in anticipation of a favor coming from the recipient or in exchange of a favor from that recipient who is a police officer," he said.
"Kung masyadong malaki, nakakahiyang tumanggap din. Hindi mo dapat tinatanggap [If it is too excessive, it's embarrassing to accept it. You should not accept it]," he added.
Panelo, however, defended the President from the alleged “erroneous" remarks of some groups, saying public servants may accept gifts or tokens of gratitude as long as these are unsolicited presents of small value given without expecting anything in return.
He said such gifts of insignificant value given as a mere ordinary token of gratitude or friendship according to local customs or usage are exempted from the provisions of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Similar presents are also an exemption under Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, he added.
"Basta hindi pwede ang corruption, hindi pwede ang padulas. Hindi pupwedeng kaya ka gagawa ng trabaho mo dahil may inaasahan kang darating sayo. O kaya ka lang gumagalaw dahil binigyan ka, yan ang bawal, yan ang klaro [Corruption is not allowed, bribery is not allowed. It should not be that you only work because you expect something in return. Or you work because you were given something, that's prohibited. That's clear]," he said.