A POLICE recruit has been rewarded with letter of commendation from the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) after he returned the P20,000 cash an automated teller machine dispensed just as he was about to insert his card (ATM) along C.M. Recto Avenue, Davao City.
Landbank officer Jojo Alcover handed the letter of commendation to Police Officer 1 (PO1) Clarc Brifanyl D. Saraum at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Region in Camp Quintin Merecido, Catitipan yesterday, July 3.
Saraum, 24, who hails from Digos City and temporarily staying in Sasa District, Davao City, is undergoing police training under the Regional Special Training Unit of the PRO-Davao.
He is currently assigned at Sasa Police Station.
PRO-Davao spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz said the action of the trainee to return the cash to the owner serves as one of the best practices of the region in maintaining the trust and confidence of the people to honest policemen.
"A public servant, like PO1 Saraum, is worthy to emulate and be given recognition. We appreciate and recognized the honesty and laudable effort of our personnel to return this to the best interest of the owner and the bank," Driz said.
Saraum, in a separate interview, said he was about to insert his card to an LBP ATM machine on C.M. Recto Avenue on July 1, Sunday, when the ATM machine dispensed the P20,000 cash.
"Tiningnan ko muna yung paligid kasi baka naman yung may-ari ng pera andiyan lang. Nung wala naman akong nakita, kinuha ko yung pera at resibo saka ko ni report agad sa security ng Landbank para magawan ng report. (I looked around to search for the owner of the money but there was nobody. So I got the money and receipt and reported it to the security of the Landbank.)" Saraum said.
Saraum did not return the money to the security guard and instead reported it to the Regional Services Training Unit (RSTU) head Superintendent Arnold Dugas.
Then the office coordinated with the LBP on July 2, Monday, to trace the owner of the cash.
After the Landbank verified the owner of the cash, the police recruit along with his supervisor and colleague returned the P20,000 cash to the bank.
Saraum was then recognized and rewarded with letter of commendation on Tuesday. Saraum said he has been thought by his grandfather and father, who were former Philippine National Police (PNP) members, to work not only with a good brain but also with a heart that does the right thing.
"Hindi po ako sinanay na gumasta ng pera na hindi ko pinaghirapan. I cannot afford na madungisan yung pangalan ko dahil lang din sa pera. The way I see it, kailangan nang may-ari ng pera, kaya naman nagmamadali siya. (I was not taught to spend money which I did not work for. I cannot afford my name to have a bad record. The way I see it, the owner needed the money that's why he or she was in a hurry.)" Saraum said.
Saraum came from the church before he went to the bank to withdraw cash.
He just want to return the money to the owner without expecting any in return. As a member of the PNP and one with President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against corruption, illegal drugs and criminalities, he vowed to do his best in the service. He said there is no reason to be slack in his job.(ICT)