POLICE officers can accept gifts and earn money from video karera, as long as their integrity would not be compromised, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday, August 9, 2019.

Speaking before cops at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Duterte assured them that he would not sanction them for receiving gifts, saying that there was nothing wrong with accepting gifts from someone who feels indebted to the police officers.

"Well, basta kung bigyan kayo, eh tanggapin ninyo (If they give you a gift, accept it). It is not bribery because... It cannot be bribery because it is allowed by law. What I mean if there is generosity in them, sabi ng anti-graft you cannot accept gifts. Kalokohan ‘yan (That's insane)," he said during the 118th police service anniversary celebration.

Presidential Decree No. 46 states that any government employee who "receive, directly or indirectly, any gift, present or any other form of benefit in the course of official duties" may face imprisonment of up to five years and perpetual disqualification from office if found guilty of violating the decree.

The President also said that he isn't bothered with cops caught playing video karera, an illegal betting game of horse racing played in arcade machines.

"'Yung machine. ‘Di ba ‘yung karera na sa inyong AOR (area of responsibility) inyo naman ‘yan? Wala man... T***... Wala akong pakialam. Sige, ibigay mo sa police. Eh, hindi mo rin talaga mapigilan (The machine, the video karera. If it's within your AOR, that's yours. It has no... Son of a... I don't care. Give it to the police. You can't stop it.)," he added.

Republic Act 6713 also states that government officials and employees are prohibited from "soliciting or accepting, 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 amy operation beung regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office."

Duterte, however, reminded the cops to avoid being greedy.

He also stressed that he would not tolerate policemen involved in illegal drugs.

"Do not allow your greed to run away with all the, alam mo na, kalokohan. So ‘yan lang akin. Hindi ko kayo iipitin (Do not allow your greed to run away with all the irregularities. So that's my stance. I won't sanction you)," he said.

"I know that, especially the police, if you are able to solve a crime and you guys from Davao alam man ninyo ‘yan (you know that). If you are able to solve a crime and the family would like to be generous to you or would nurture a feeling of gratitude for what you accomplish, then by all means, accept it. Wala akong ano (That's fine with me)," he added.