PNP honors honest cop

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership will give due recognition to Police Officer 1 Jimmy Reginaldo, who returned P10,000 and $100 he found in a taxi to its rightful owner.

Reginaldo, 37, said he boarded a taxi near the Baclaran church Friday night on his way to the Parañaque City police station where he is assigned. He found a wallet containing the money and several identification cards that allowed him to trace the owner, seaman Jessie Pinguel.

Pinguel thanked Reginaldo for returning the money. He said Reginaldo could easily have kept the money, but went out of his way to return his wallet.

“There are still good police officers,” Pinguel said in a radio interview.

The Parañaque police has given Reginaldo a citation, and PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said they have “a surprise” for him and that PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa “will announce it later.”

Reginaldo said he did not expect the recognition since what he did was the right thing to do. He called on fellow police officers to help the PNP win back the trust and confidence of the public.         – Cecille Suerte Felipe