PHOTO from John Pagaduan/ Piñol’s Facebook page
It may be the season of gift-giving, but for Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol, it is the season of “gift-returning.”
In a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday, Piñol shared an experience wherein he resisted a temptation and returned a luxurious Rolex submariner worth P450,000, which he received during a dinner of top officials of a giant agricultural company.
“The one I received recently was just stuffed in a bag along with the other mementos which I usually receive during [a] ceremonial exchange of gifts,” he wrote.
“It was not until I was on my farm in Kidapawan City when I decided to open the box and I almost fell off my seat when I saw what was inside the box. It was a Rolex submariner, a watch which almost every man dreams of owning,” he added.
Just before commencing his political career in 1995, the Secretary recalled that he previously received a Rolex Oyster Perpetual from a friend. He rarely uses the watch because he is not fond of using posh jewelry.
Although the gift is indeed a trendy “must-have” for many public servants, Piñol’s “huge burden” was gone when he returned the gift to the unidentified giver.
“I explained that I could not take the gift because not only because the company is involved in activities which would require the supervision of the Department (of Agriculture), which I head, but also because the law prohibits officials like me from accepting expensive gifts,” he explained, noting that he could possibly face jail time if he kept the watch or accepted other lavish presents from officials or businessmen.
He added, “Now, I can look at anybody straight in the eye and tell them that I am following President Rody Duterte’s directive that members of his Cabinet must not be linked to any act of corruption.”
Lastly, Piñol urged his fellow public officials to thoroughly screen all the Christmas gifts they receive from colleagues and friends.
His Facebook post was liked 40,000 times and shared 11,000 times in a few hours. Gianna Francesca Catolico