CAUAYAN CITY, Philippines--A SON OF A poor farmer from an agricultural village in Burgos town did not think twice about returning P1 million worth of checks, some of them issued pay to cash, that he found on his way home last month.

Richard Bactad, 19, of Barangay San Miguel in Burgos, was waiting for a ride on Aug. 20 after he attended his classes at the Isabela State University here when he noticed a brown envelope left by a woman at the waiting shed.

Bactad, a 3rd year Business Management student, took the envelope to his boarding house and when he opened it, he was shocked to see newly issued checks worth P1 million.

?The first thing that came to my mind was to find the owner because she must have been desperately searching for it,? he said.

Growing up in a poor family whose only source of livelihood is farming, Bactad could have encashed the checks to support his education and his family but he said that he never entertained the idea.

?Keeping the money never crossed my mind. I know that the owner needed it so much that I have to find ways to look for her,? he said.

Bactad sought the help of Hot FM, a commercial radio station in the city, whose anchors immediately asked the owner to claim the envelope from them.

The envelope belonged to Bonifacio Uy, a businessman, who asked a teller from PSBank to deposit his money. Uy claimed the missing checks the next day.

Although he thanked Bactad for returning the checks, he did not offer anything to the student.

Bactad, however, said he was not expecting anything in return. He said he was simply happy that he had turned over the envelope to its owner.

?I did not work hard for the money, why would I get it? I?m scared to steal. Returning the money which I do not own is the right thing to do,? he said.

On learning of Bactad?s honesty, local government officials, his teachers and schoolmates were all praises for him.

Dr. Wayne Sabado, ISU-Cauayan dean, said Bactad?s honesty is worthy of emulation. ?His breed is rare. Unscrupulous people may not return such a big amount,? he said.

He said the university would give a scholarship grant to Bactad until he graduates.

The university will also give an award and P2,000 while Isabela officials will give P3,000 to Bactad. Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon