Isabela student cited for returning P1 million

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — A scholarship and other citations await a 19-yearold student of the Isabela State University (ISU) who displayed honesty and prudence by returning several checks worth a total of P1 million.

Besides the Isabela provincial government, Richard Bactad, who comes from a farming family in the interior Burgos town, was recognized by the university’s administration and faculty after they learned of his admirable deed.

Bactad said he noticed a brown envelope at a waiting shed in Cauayan City while he was waiting for a ride home last Aug. 27.

“I asked a woman at the waiting shed about it but she said it wasn’t hers so I decided to bring it home. When I opened (the envelope), I saw some checks,” he said.

“I never thought of keeping or trying to encash the checks, even if some were (made pay to cash),” stressed the BS Entrepreneurial student.

Bactad, whose parents work as tenants on a small piece of land, said he could not even think of taking ownership of the checks since he could imagine the worry and anguish of the person who lost the checks.

“I didn’t exert any effort for it, besides, I felt sorry for the person who lost the checks. We have to return anything found to the real owner,” he said.

The following day, Bactad went to the offi ce of the Cauayan Citybased 89.7 Hot FM station, and sought their assistance in returning the checks to the Philippine Savings Bank, which has a branch in the city.

ISU professors and deans were all praises of Bactad for such deed, and were set to extend full scholarship until completion of his degree.

Isabela Gov. Padaca gave P3,000 to him as cash reward for his honesty.