Honest cop feted today

A police official who returned the P329,500 he picked up near a public market in Quezon City on May 6 will be cited today by the National Capital Region Police Office.

Senior Inspector Bert Malaza, of the Central Police District-Station 5 will receive his plaque of appreciation from NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco and Senator Robert Barbers, a former cop himself, during today’s flagraising rites at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

Malaza earned the admiration and respect of the public for his embodiment of the three-core values of the new breed of cops in the Metro Manila police: Pulis Magalang, Pulis Malinis and Pulis Mabilis.

Aside from the plaque, Velasco also handed to the teary-eyed Malaza at least P20,000 in cash chipped in by officers and men of the NCRPO last Tuesday.

An anonymous donor, who admired the cop’s honesty, also shelled out P15,000.

Velasco heaped praises on Malaza’s honesty, saying that the senior inspector belongs to the new breed of cops in the Metro Manila police force who are dedicated to the job and are true to their sworn duty to serve and protect. "We have heroes in the Metro Manila police force whose everyday deeds come unnoticed but are heroic just the same."

"Police officers like PO1 Aristotle Tacata, PO1 Aldie Monteroso, and Senior Inspector Malaza are the kind of cops who bring back the trust and confidence of the public in the police corps," the NCRPO chief said.

Malaza said he was caught by surprise when he opened the knapsack and saw bundles of money inside. — Non Alquitran