THE Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has awarded the “Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal” to an enlisted man for honesty.

Major Arvin John Encinas, Westmincom spokesperson, named the awardee of the Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal as Technical Sergeant Armando Gamboa, who is assigned at the Westmincom headquarters.

The Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal is awarded to the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for conspicuous performance of non-military activities and community development programs or other related activities, which merit recognition.

Encinas said that Gamboa returned a wallet with P6,000 cash and several automated teller machine cards containing huge sum of money, refusing to accept a monetary reward offered by the owner.

Encinas said Gamboa found the wallet on June 11, this year, along Veterans Avenue, Zamboanga City and handed it over to a local television station to facilitate its return to the owner.

He said that Gamboa, finding an emergency number in the identified card of the owner, called the owner’s wife on June 25 since nobody came forward to claim the wallet at the TV station.

“This communication facilitated the meeting between the two at the TV station,” he added.

The owner, elated by his honesty, offered a P10,000 reward, but Gamboa refused to accept, saying, “Ang paggawa ng tama ay walang katumbas na halaga ng pera o karangyaan sa buhay (Doing the right thing has no equivalent in terms of monetary or wealth in life).”

“Sa 27 taon ko sa serbisyo, laging nakatatak sa puso at isipan ko ang pagiging sundalo na may disiplina, dignidad, at katapatan sa tungkulin, hindi lamang sa bayan kung hindi maging sa kapwa tao (In my 27 years of active military service, I have always inculcated in my heart and mind the values of discipline, dignity, and honesty),” Gamboa said.

Gamboa is described as a well-rounded warrior with exceptional skills, an epitome of a true soldier living up to the AFP’s core values of honor, service, and patriotism.

On behalf of the command, Brigadier General Generoso Ponio, Westmincom deputy commander for operations, awarded the Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal to Gamboa during Monday’s flag ceremony at Camp Navarro, this city.

Clad in battle-dress uniform, Gamboa marched on Western Mindanao Command’s parade ground to receive the award.

“Technical Sergeant Gamboa made the whole armed forces proud with his deed. We hope this account will inspire our ranks to maintain the same degree of integrity, professionalism, and conduct,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom chief. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)