Pangasinan cops honor honest boys

MANILA, Philippines - Two Honestos. That’s what they are called now for their inspiring deed.

Two street children from Urdaneta City in who returned an expensive camera they found were honored in simple rites by the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPO) in their regular flag raising ceremony.

Jayson Manuel, 11, and Theo dela Cruz, 8, both from Barangay Poblacion became instant celebrities and stood tall before policemen as they received their recognition.

The two turned over a camera they found in an eatery to a policeman and their deed of returning something that does not belong to them, despite being penniless and hungry, is worth emulating, according to police director Senior Superintendent Marlou Chan.

Chan said the two kids showed that honesty is very much alive and the trust of citizenry, especially young children, of policemen remains high.

The story of Manuel and dela Cruz was featured in The STAR on Oct. 25. Copies of the story were placed in their citation and Chan gave each of them a school bag each and a pair of shoes.

An Australian who read the story is communicating with Superintendent Jeff Fanged, Urdaneta City police chief, to extend assistance to the two kids, according to Senior Inspector Ryan Manongdo, spokesman of the PPO here.

Today, the two kids will receive another award from the Urdaneta City government, Fanged said.

Manuel and Estrada found the camera while they were going about their usual routine of searching for food. They turned the camera over to SPO1 Eduardo Ragonton Jr. of the Urdaneta City Police Station.

The two boys will be adopted by the Urdaneta City Police Station which will take care of their school needs and well-being as part of the strengthened community partnership being undertaken by the Urdaneta City Police Station in particular and the Pangasinan police in general, a message from the city police’s Facebook page said.