Against accepting gifts

There is an ongoing furor over Pres. Duterte's announcement that policemen may receive gifts from the public if this is in connection with a generosity coming from a family for an appreciation of a solved crime and other similar laudable acts. But receiving, soliciting and asking favors of monetary values are explicitly prohibited by law so that even with the President's good intentions the PNP spokesperson General Bernard Banac in an interview at CNN said that he is still in favor of following the law prohibiting government officials from accepting gifts in the course of the performance of their official duties or functions. Thus, he still caution policemen from receiving or accepting gifts.

In accord with General Bernard Banac vis-a-vis the receiving and or accepting gifts by government officials from the general public. We must always remember that there is a very thin veil that separates real generosity from outright bribery.

Jose Hortelano

Balamban, Cebu