Metro Manila (CNN Philippines August 19) — President Rodrigo Duterte has been offered expensive gifts, but he does not receive it, his spokesperson claimed.
In a press briefing Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Sal Panelo said that Duterte does not personally receive expensive gifts.
“Ang alam ko pag merong nagreregalo sa kanya pinapaderetso niya sa Office of the President. It will be the government of the Philippines that will receive the gift,” Panelo said.
[Translation: What I know is when someone gives him gifts, he directs it to the Office of the President.]
Panelo cited as an example the time when an artist wanted to give Duterte a painting of him. The painting was donated to the Palace instead.
The issue of Duterte allegedly receiving expensive gifts was raised in a commentary posted in the Vera Files. The article was written by Ellen Tordesillas, a journalist that the Palace had previously tagged in its “Oust Duterte” matrix.
“When President Duterte told members of the police force that it’s okay to accept gifts, he was just preaching what he has been doing,” Tordesillas wrote, citing figures from the alleged bank accounts that were subject to a suspended Ombudsman probe.
Panelo said that Tordesillas had no proof to her allegations.
“Sabi nga one who alleges must prove. If you cannot prove di wag ka na magsalita kasi naninira ka lang,” he said.
[Translation: They said the one who alleges must prove. If you can not prove then don’t talk because you’re just ruining someone’s reputation.]
The issue of officials accepting gifts was raised after Duterte, in a speech, said that it was okay for policemen to receive tokens of gratitude from the public.
READ: Police, CSC reject Duterte’s ‘accept gifts’ remark
