Honest patrol cops return P2 M to owner

There are still a lot of honest cops out there.

This was proven true when a group of policemen from the Manila Police District (MPD) returned to its rightful owner more than P2 million they found while patrolling their beat in Dagupan, Tondo last Thursday.

According to Inspector Eduardo Morata, chief of the Dagupan police community precinct, he and PO3 Monico Sumala, PO2 Conrado Juanio and PO2 Jess de Jesus were on routine patrol when Sumala noticed a white envelope on the ground.

Picking it up and opening the envelope, the officers discovered several checks amounting to P2,080,000 and P20,000 in cash.

"Our instinct dictated us to first inquire from residents on the rows of establishments along Dagupan street to determine if anyone lost the item we recovered," Morata told The STAR.

One of the establishment owners was able to identify one of the recovered checks as hers which she had earlier given to a rice delivery boy.

Further inquiry led the officers to Ronnie de Guzman, 39, who was able to identify the envelope containing the cash and checks.

He told police the envelope may have slipped from his pocket while doing the collection rounds from the stores his employer services.

De Guzman profusely thanked the cops for the return of the envelope containing the checks and cash.

"I could have lost my job. I might have even been accused of stealing the amount if not for these honest policemen," De Guzman told The STAR in Filipino.

Meanwhile, De Guzman’s employer, who requested that he remain anonymous, offered the four officers a small amount as token of his gratitude. The policemen politely refused.

"We are only doing our best for the public. We just want to prove that Manila policemen are an honest breed," Morata said.

Moriones police station chief Senior Superintendent Edgar Danao lauded the four policemen for their honesty in a simple ceremony yesterday. – Nestor Etolle