Honesty pays for Boholana cop
The Philippine National Police (PNP) certainly never runs out of heroes.
This was according to the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima who recently visited the regional office yesterday to award medals of commendation to 18 of his men in the Central Visayas Regional Office in his aim to uplift their morale amid the controversies that he is facing.
Among the awardees was SPO1 Jennifer Cabando Atanacio, 41 of the Bohol Provincial Police Office, the only female officer who received the PNP Commendation Medal pinned by Purisima.
She was commended for her honesty and goodwill in returning the excess amount of P100,000 cash to the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association Inc. (AFPSLAI) – Tagbilaran Extension Office on Sept. 3 this year.
In an interview, Atanacio, who also was a recipient of 2005 Best Policewoman in Bohol during the Police Community Relations (PCR) month, told reporters that she did not expect to receive an award for doing something “ordinary.”
“It was not a big deal for me since returning the money was the right thing to do. But I hope this will serve as an example to others,” Atanacio said.
Atanacio took out a P100,000-loan from AFSPLAI but was surprised to find out when she got home that the envelope the teller gave her contained P200,000.
She immediately returned the extra cash the following day.
Atanacio, who is serving her 11th year in the police force, is a nurse by profession. It was her father, a retired policeman, who encouraged her to join the police force after it took her a while to pass the nursing licensure examination.
She is happily married to Supt. Jovito Atanacio, chief of the Bohol Provincial Intelligence Branch, and they have one child.
Purisima, who is facing corruption charges, spoke before a hundred of police officers gathered at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 headquarters.
“I always find it important to seek ways to lift the morale of our police personnel all over the country, to constantly motivate them, to never cease or falter from serving and protecting the community despite all the odds,” Purisima said in his speech.
He added the police force must continue to perform their mandated tasks and perform it well.
“I have come here today to join our men and women in this police office in reaffirming our commitment to our police ideals and to assure you that your leadership remains wholly supportive for the good of the organization and the entire nation,” Purisima said.
“I’d like to think amidst all the daunting challenges the police now faces, our men and women remains steadfast and committed to the pursuit of our mandated duties by upholding our police ideals, service, honor and justice,” Purisima added
He also said that it is one way of ensuring that the programs and policies are efficiently and effectively carried out from the national headquarters to the smallest police units in the municipalities and barangays.
“May your courage, loyalty and dedication inspire other members of the police force to be the best that they can be to the performance of their mandated duties,” said Purisima.
“I urge you to carry our best practices until we have finally achieved all our reform objectives,” Purisima added.
Purisima thanked the men and women of PRO-7 for their unwavering support despite the controversies he is facing.
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