Tread carefully on the issue of accepting gifts

LAST week, in a speech before Philippine National Police officials and police officers, President Rodrigo Duterte took flight again with his own self-styled interpretation of the law and regulations governing conduct in public office.

He told his audience: “Kung bigyan kayo tanggapin n’yo. (If you are given a gift, accept it). It is not bribery...What I mean is if there is generosity in them. Sabi ng anti-graft, you cannot accept gifts. Kalokohan! (Nonsense.)