ILOILO City – The city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) chief Jeck Conlu warned his personnel against asking or accepting gifts from anyone while on duty.
This policy aims to shield PSTMO personnel from accusations of extortion this holiday season, said Conlu.
“If you see a PSTMO personnel violating the directive, please alert our office,” Conlu urged the public.
Violators would be subjected to disciplinary action such as suspension, or worse, dismissal from the service.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) recently reiterated a provision in Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) which prohibits civil servants from soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, loans or anything of monetary value in the course of their official duties.
“Serving the public is our duty and we must give the best possible service and the extra mile without expecting anything in return,” said CSC chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala.
Section 50 (8), Rule 10 of the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS), on the other hand, prohibits “receiving for personal use of a fee, gift or other valuable thing in the course of official duties or in connection therewith when such fee, gift or other valuable thing is given by any person in the hope or expectation of receiving a favor or better treatment than that accorded to other persons, or committing acts punishable under the anti-graft laws.”
Violation of this provision is punishable by dismissal from the service.
The 2017 RACCS also specifically prohibits “soliciting or accepting directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value in the course of one’s official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of one’s office.”/PN
