Policemen warned: Don’t ask, accept Christmas gifts

In this season of giving, policemen in Central Visayas were  reminded not to ask for  or receive Christmas gifts from private individuals.

The warning was issued by Director General Nicanor Bartolome, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in his visit in Cebu.

Bartolome said policemen should avoid  soliciting donations for their Christmas parties.

Bartolome, who was in Cebu City yesterday for the inauguration of a new police station, said violators will be dealt with accordingly.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom-7) previously warned government employees especially police officers not to accept gifts to avoid administrative sanctions.

Lawyer Homer Mariano Cabaral, Napolcom-7 director, cited Republic Act 3019, the anti-graft law, which prohibits government employees from soliciting gifts.

Accepting gifts is an act of grave misconduct especially for the police officers, Cabaral said.

Bartolome also urged policemen in Central Visayas to continue working hard so the crime rate in the region would continue to decrease.

The PNP chief said the peace and order situation in Region 7 was much better than in other regions.

“Iba dito, wala talagang malalaking problema (It’s different here. There are no big problems here),” he said.

Bartolome said the crime rate nationwide has decreased by 23 percent.