Duterte gives motorcycles as gifts to top cop riders

President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo from an RTVM video)

MANILA, Philippines—He usually gives watches to policemen. But this time, it’s motorcycles.

President Rodrigo Duterte gifted three policemen who topped the motorcycle riding course with Yamaha motorcycles.

“Sino yung pinaka, who is the number one rider here? Yung pinakasikat, the highest point, whatever?” he asked the police during his speech at the closing ceremony of the motorcycle riding course in Davao City on Friday.

“You stand up so I can recognize you. Ayaw niyo ng motor? Where?” he said.

“Okay you will receive each of you a dual Yamaha,” he added. “That’s my gift to you.”

Duterte said motorcycle riding was a dangerous job but said motorcycle riding police are the early responders during emergencies.

“You have to learn the way it should be. Madumi ito na trabaho. Madumi na delikado,” he said.

“But then it’s one of the best fighting force, really, is the early responders, and it could only be the police who are riding motorcycles. I am glad that you have taken interest in this,” he added.

The President also warned the police not to use motorcycles and other government resources to make profit.

“Let me also remind you that whenever you use your motorcycles in the line of duty, you do so as agents of government and protectors of our people,” he said.

“Never allow yourselves to be tempted to make profit out of it by offering services to private sectors. Those caught with this kind in the practice would have to be accountable to it,” he added. /jpv