It's still "no regrets" as far as Police Inspector Libertad Teruel is concerned, even if she might have been richer by P8.5 million.

In July last year, Teruel got the biggest surprise of her life when she discovered that the PNP credit cooperative of which she was the treasurer, had gotten richer by P 8.5 million.

It turned out that the Land Bank of the Philippines had deposited P8.5 million to the account of the Negros Occidental PNP Credit Cooperative Inc.

The NOPNPCCI only had a balance of P3 million in its deposit at LBP-Bacolod Branch. When Teruel checked it, it had gone up to more than P12 million. At the time Teruel was the only person authorized by the PNP cooperative to withdraw money from its deposit at LBP.

Despite her financial difficulties, Teruel promptly informed the LBP about the misplaced deposit. As she later told the DAILY STAR, "Anhon ta ang kuarta nga indi aton (What will we do with money that is not ours)? I can still live within my means".

"Honesty is still the best policy" for me, she added.

The exemplary and courageous act of Teruel was only known lately to Senior Supt. Charles Calima, provincial police director, although it was already of common knowledge to her close friends and colleagues. Calima learned of it at a staff conference at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City early this week.

Calima yesterday said Teruel is worthy of emulation by her colleagues in the police service.

Teruel who will have rendered 30 years of service to the police service in January next year, said her decision not to take advantage of the P8.5 million makes her feel good. "I can sleep well and move freely without being bothered by my conscience", she added.

The PNP cooperative, that was formed almost two decades ago by the Negros Occidental police, and its non-uniformed personnel with a seed capital of P250,000, facilitates the purchase of appliances by its interested members.

Teruel was among the finalists in the search for Top 3 Policemen in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City for 2005, an annual activity organized and sponsored by the Council of Lions Clubs Presidents in Negros Occidental.

Retired Chief Supt. Luis Gador, chairman of the PNP Credit Coopertative, also shared the decision of Teruel not to touch the P8.5 million and to inform the LBP-Bacolod Branch management.

Teruel said Delma Manilad- LBP-Bacolod manager, expressed her appreciation for what she did.

The exemplary attitude of Teruel is a big change after the series of complaints filed against the police, who remain on top of the list of alleged human rights violators in Negros Occidental, based on the records of the Commission on Human Rights.

Meanwhile, Calima also confirmed yesterday that the Victorias City Police Station commanded b Senior Supt. Modesto Sanson and Senior Inspector Rico Santotome, Valladolid police chief, are competing for national awards as best city police station and junior police commissioned officer, respectively, for 2005.

The Council of Lions Clubs Presidents recently honored Top 3 policemen of Negros Occidental: Santotome, SPO4 Pabiolo Ortiz and newly-promoted SPO1 Dante Victor Escorpion.*GPB

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