2 soldiers commended for honesty

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City — Describing their honest deed as something other military men should emulate, Maj. Gen. Cardoso Luna, chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, issued commendations to two of his men who had returned P100,000 in excess withdrawals to a state-owned bank.

During the flag-raising ceremony here last Monday, Luna personally handed the certificates of recognition to Maj. Senorio Laspiñas and S/Sgt. Antero Aurita, disbursing and finance officers, respectively, of the 403rd Infantry Brigade based in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The two withdrew money for the salaries and allowances of their brigade personnel from the Cagayan de Oro City branch of the Land Bank of the Philippines last Dec. 5, but a teller inadvertently released an excess of P100,000. 

Laspiñas and Aurita discovered the teller’s mistake while they were counting the money on their way back to Bukidnon.

This prompted them to drive back to Cagayan de Oro City and personally hand the excess withdrawal to the Landbank’s cashier. 

In return, the manager and the personnel of the Landbank branch sent a letter to the 4th ID commending Laspiñas and Aurita.

In his speech, Luna urged his men to instill a sense of discipline and motivation to please God and their fellow countrymen.

"The exemplary acts shown by the two Army officers are not only worth of praise and honor but must be emulated among us soldiers and other Filipinos, especially in these hard and trying times where material wealth seems the only thing that brings us happiness instead of the honor of being honest and straightforward," he said.

"We must correct these values now because ultimately good deeds last while material things perish," Luna added.