MANILA – Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Friday defended anew his all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas to see the fight of Senator Manny Pacquiao against Jessie Vargas, which is now the subject of an Office of the Ombudsman probe.
The anti-graft body on Thursday said it will probe the PNP chief for possible violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees when he accepted the all-expense paid trip for him and his family from no less than the boxer-senator."Sala diay to? (Kasalanan pala ‘yon?). Makulong ako para sa imbitasyon... ang importante hindi yun kurakot na kwarta,” he said.
(So that’s an offense? I’ll go to jail because of an invitation? What’s important is I did not steal money from the public.)
Pacquiao has defended his decision to pay for the trip of Dela Rosa and his family.
However, Republic Act 6713 states that “public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, 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 any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”
Pacquiao bought some two thousands tickets – over a million dollars' worth – and also flew in some of his friends from the government himself.
"It's an honor na lahat sila, naka-suporta sa akin. Si Bato, Aguirre , at marami pang iba. 'Yung mga kasama na congressmen, si Toby Tiangco, Senator Villanueva. Maraming kaibigan na pumunta dito," Pacquiao had said while in Las Vegas.
"Libre ito ni Manny," dela Rosa admitted then, adding "lahat sila, galing ito sa Senator. Baka sabihin nila, government funds. Hindi naman ako ganoon kayaman [He treated us. This is not government funds and we are not that rich."
SOURCE: ABS-CBN
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