MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo reminded police officers not to accept bribes, especially from those people involved in cases they are handling.
“It’s also forbidden to borrow money from a person involved in a case you’re handling,” Robredo said on Sunday in her “BISErbisyong LENI” AM radio show aired over RMN-DZXL 558.
Robredo was reacting to a statement made by President Rodrigo Duterte that there would be nothing wrong if police officers were to accept gifts from people showing their appreciation for their assistance.
“It is not bribery because it is allowed by the law. What I mean is if there is generosity. And then the anti-graft law says you cannot accept gifts. That’s nonsense,” the President, speaking partly in Filipino, said in a speech on Friday.
READ: Duterte OK with cops accepting ‘gifts’ out of gratitude, earning extra cash from video-karera
Robredo said, however, that law enforcers who would accept bribes from those involved in their cases would be “biased.”
The Vice President cited Section 7(D) of the Code of Conduct And Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713), which prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of gifts.
That section says: “Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”
The Philippine National Police previously appealed to the public not to give gifts to police officers for doing their jobs.
READ: PNP to file raps, probe cops accepting gifts involving corruption
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