Overseas worker Jessie Pinguel pins the Medalya ng Kasanayan on Police Officer 1 Jimmy Reginaldo while PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa looks on.

A policeman returned around P15,000 in cash he found in a wallet to its owner and has been rewarded with more than P50,000 in cash and kind from people who learned of his act of honesty.

According to the Philippine National Police, Police Officer 1 Jimmy Reginaldo earned more from returning a wallet containing P10,000 and $500 in cash to an overseas Filipino worker from Cavite than if he kept the money for himself.

Reginaldo also earned a medal for going out of his way to return the wallet and its content to its owner, Jessie Pinguel, who lost it in Parañaque.

Pinguel pinned on Reginaldo the Medalya ng Kasanayan awarded by PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa at Camp Crame on Wednesday.

Aside from the cash sent by many, Reginaldo also got a scholarship for his remaining semester at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Law.

“I share the pride and honor of the 125,000 men and women of the Philippine National Police as we give due recognition to Police Officer 1 Jimmy Reginaldo whom we recognize for honesty and trustworthiness, which are the finest qualities of a true servant and protector of the people,” said Verzosa.

“Men of honor like PO1 Reginaldo are not a rare breed in the PNP, they are the men who promote and develop the culture of professionalism, excellence and public service in the finest tradition of the police service,” he said.

Reginaldo was on his way to a Parañaque City Police Station when found a wallet inside a taxi. He went to Cavite where the owner of the wallet lives to personally return the wallet containing some P10,000 and $500 cash.

With measly take home pay being spent for his law study and the schooling of his five children, Reginaldo could have easily succumbed to temptation by taking advantage of the opportunity.

But he did not.

Reginaldo received a number of rewards for his honesty, from a sack of rice, grocery items and a complete volume of encyclopedia for his children.

“Indeed, the PNP will never run out of heroes, as there will always be someone who will rise to the occasion to perform the mission,” said Verzosa.

The PNP has been looking for and rewarding men for exemplary service as part of its transformation program aimed at restoring respect for policemen.

Two of those earlier rewarded were PO1 Danilo Malab, who demonstrated the PNP brand of discipline by standing for nine hours serving as honor guard during the interment of former President Corazon Aquino and SPO3 Loreto Justo, the police sea marshal who risked his own life in leading hundreds of passengers to safety during a recent maritime tragedy in the high seas.

“There are more nameless police officers like Reginaldo, Malab and Justo out there who quietly perform the sworn duty to protect and serve but continue to inspire their fellow police personnel to strive for excellence and professional public service, and live up to the core values of service, honor and justice,” said Verzosa.