DND arsenal exec returns P750,000 in over-withdrawal

BALANGA CITY – A female finance officer of the Department of National Defense (DND) arsenal returned to the Land Bank of the Philippines an over-withdrawal of P750,000 recently.

“Kahit na mahirap ako, di ko pag-iiteresan ‘yung perang di akin (Even if I’m poor, I won’t take interest in money not rightfully mine),” said 55-year-old Carmelita Mendoza, who has worked for 10 years at the DND arsenal at Camp General Antonio Luna in Barangay Lamao, Limay town.

As further proof of Mendoza’s honesty, she also returned P2,500 to Landbank five years ago.

Mendoza, or Talits as she is fondly called by her friends and officemates at the 370-hectare DND arsenal compound, discovered that the P1.5 million she had withdrawn from the Landbank branch here last Aug. 6 exceeded by P750,000 in over 15 bundles of P500 bills.

The P1.5 million was intended for the night differential, hazard pay and quarter allowances of the arsenal’s employees.

Upon arrival at her office, Mendoza, as was the standard procedure, immediately distributed the P1.5 million to four paymasters.

After doing so, she discovered the excess amount and immediately informed a Landbank official about the error.

Landbank-Balanga City branch manager Sylvia Lim personally congratulated Mendoza for her honest deed.

Local business and community leaders also took note of Mendoza’s honesty, saying it should be emulated by other government officials and employees.