MANILA, Philippines — In Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, a police trainee’s grand gesture became the perfect example of compassion and mindfulness in this time of strict quarantine due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
On April 4, an 89-year-old woman passed by a checkpoint in Barangay Paypayan to sell her broomsticks in the area. A consequent run-in would have been an easy guess by anyone. But kindness was a welcome intervention.
According to a Facebook post from the Public Safety Field Training Program (PSFTP) 02-2019 Misamis Occidental Team Oroquieta unit, the old woman was selling broomsticks to earn money so she could buy food and other basic necessities.
As she approached the checkpoint, Pat. Raymon Lendio, who was on a field training, met her and talked to her.
“While interviewing the woman, he found out that the woman lives alone, and with good intention, he bought all of the broomsticks and gave her a face mask and some food for the old lady and find a motor cab for the woman to ride home,” the Facebook post noted.
“Public service does not say on age, sex, or status. It is given to all who are in need,” it added.
Lendio’s act of kindness was also shared by the local government unit of Oroquieta on its Facebook page. The LGU called the police trainee’s action a “public service from the heart.”