Hours after Malacañang denied that it had distributed cash gifts for cops, a police source revealed to INQUIRER.net that top officials started receiving their Christmas bonuses worth at least P100,000 each on Monday.

A police official, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, admitted to claiming the cash gift from President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, upon the instructions of Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“It’s true. They’ve given it to us yesterday,” he told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview on Tuesday.

“It’s given in cash. They had prepared the envelopes already. You just have to sign a list before claiming the money,” he said.

He and the rest of PNP officials got the cash from Dela Rosa’s office in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Earlier Tuesday Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Christmas bonus for key PNP officials “has not been given and is apparently, not forthcoming.”

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa also backtracked on his earlier announcement that Duterte will give Christmas bonuses worth P40,000 to P50,000 only to high-ranking police officials.

“Akala ko meron akong malaking matanggap kahapon dahil akala ko may ibibigay na bonus ang Malacañang (I thought I was going to receive a big amount of money yesterday because I thought Malacañang was going to hand out bonuses),” he said.

“Kaso kinulit ng media. Nagtatanong ‘yung media saan daw ang source (ng pera), saan galing hanggang sa sige lang tayo hintay, walang dumating (But the media kept on asking where the money came from so we had to wait until nothing came),” Dela Rosa added.

Now that the release of bonuses for PNP is uncertain, Dela Rosa said Duterte might give the officials a sack of rice each as a substitute.

“Sabi ng Malacañang, ‘Sige hintay lang kayo, maghanap pa kami ng pera. Baka bago mag New Year bigyan ko kayo ng tig-isang sako ng bigas (Malacañang told us, ‘Just wait as we look for money, probably before the New Year we will give you a sack of rice each’),” he said.

The police chief publicly announced this during a Christmas event on Monday at the PNP Grandstand in Camp Crame attended by police officials, non-commissioned officers, non-uniformed personnel and their family members.

Being the only PNP official with a four-star rank, Dela Rosa said he will receive P400,000. Francisco Uyami and Ramon Apolinario, who both have a rank of Deputy Director General, a three-star rank, will receive P300,000 each. All officers with Police Director or two-star rank will receive P200,000.

Chief Superintendent or star-rank officers in the PNP directorial staff, regional and provincial directors and heads of national support units down will also receive P100,000.

Key officials with ranks of Senior Superintendent below will receive cash above P50,000.

Dela Rosa has raised eyebrows for accepting cash gifts, which could total millions of pesos, from Duterte for select officials, a move that could be considered a violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

Dela Rosa also refused to divulge the source of Duterte’s funds.

“Definitely it’s not allowed by law that’s why they are denying it,” the source said.

Some junior officials and non-commissioned police officers also found it unfair for the President to give hefty sums of money to select officials rather than spend them on improving the equipment of the police as the government continues with its war against drugs./rga

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