Cop gives $100 to working student stopped at quarantine checkpoint

MANILA, Philippines — When Joshua Basa, a 21-year-old working student, was stopped by a policeman in a quarantine checkpoint as he was driving his motorcycle, he received a $100 bill (around P5,073) instead of a violation ticket.

Basa, a fourth-year Aviation Management Information System student, shared his encounter on Saturday with policeman SirJon Tibay Nacino, who was deployed at a checkpoint along España Boulevard in Manila.

In a now-viral Facebook post, Basa, a part-time food delivery driver, said he was supposed to pick up food in Sta. Mesa for delivery when he passed through the checkpoint.

https://www.facebook.com/utwaaa/posts/3455256547835070

As he was lining-up for inspection, another rider passed through the other lane prompting him to think he can also pass through that area.

“Nasita po ako ng pulis na tingin ay sumisingit ako. Di ko naman po intensyon na gawin ‘yun. Ang akala ko lang is pwede pong magpa-inspect sa kabilang lane (I was flagged by a policeman who thought I am trying to cut the line. That was not my intention. I just thought I could have my motorcycle inspected in that lane),” he said in his post.

Basa said the policeman reprimanded him until he explained he is a working student trying to make ends meet.

He narrated that the policeman then asked how he could have afforded to buy a motorcycle if that was the case. In response, Basa said he needed the motorcycle to go from his house in Tondo to his school in Pasay City and that he also used it for transportation in his previous job at a restaurant.

“Pagsabi ko nun, naiyak ako. Bago kasi mangyari ‘yun eh medyo di naging maganda [ang] araw ko sa mga na-experience ko kanina sa mga deliver ko. Kaya masama talaga loob ko buong araw. Tapos bigla nalang siya nagsalita tapos dumukot sa wallet niya na akala ko ay titicketan na ako,” he said.

(When I said that, I cried. Before it happened, my day wasn’t really well because of what I have experienced in my deliveries earlier. I was really down the whole day. Then he said something and took his wallet and I thought he was going to issue a violation ticket.)

But instead of a ticket for the violation, Nacino instead handed him a $100 bill.

“Oh eto ($100), tulong ko sayo (Here, I’m offering this as help),” Basa said, quoting the words of the policeman.

He said he initially refused to receive the money but Nacino insisted that he receive it.

“Tanggapin mo na. Tulong ko sayo ‘yan. Gusto ko magtapos ka ha! Ipangako mo sa akin (Just take it. That’s my help to you. I want you to finish school. Make that promise to me)!” the policeman then replied, according to Basa’s narration.

When Nacino uttered these words, tears further fell down Basa’s face.

“Pagsabi niya non, lalo akong umiyak. Hindi ko napansin ‘yung halaga ng pera pero sa mga sinabi niya talaga ko nadala. Pagtapos nun, kinamayan ko siya. Nagpasalamat talaga ako. Di ko na nagawang kuhanan sya ng litrato dahil nadala na talaga ako sa emosyon ko. Mula sa checkpoint, pagpick-up, pagdrop ko ng item at pag-uwi ko sa bahay, iyak lang ako nang iyak,” he shared.

(When he said that, I cried all the more. I did not notice the amount of the money he gave me but I was really swayed by what he said. After that, I shook hands with him. I really thanked him. I forgot to take a photo of him because I was really carried away by my emotion. From the checkpoint to the pick-up point, when I delivered the item and went home, I was just crying.)

In a separate post on Sunday, Basa said he returned to the checkpoint after Nacino saw his earlier viral post and messaged him.

In that second meeting, Basa asked Nacino why he decided to give him money, to which the officer replied: “Kasi ako dati pasok baon aral lang, kaya bilib ako sa inyong mga working student na kailangan pa magtrabaho para lang makapag aral (Because when I was a student, I just go to school to study with allowance, that’s why I am amazed by students who have to work just to be able to study).”

https://www.facebook.com/utwaaa/posts/3458268010867257

Inspired by the kind action that Nacino had offered him, Basa then promised his parents and the officer that he will finish his studies.

“Alam ko na naging pabaya ko sa pag-aaral ko noon kaya may mga dapat akong balikan, pero pinapangako ko sayo yan lalo na sa magulang ko makakapagtapos din ako (I know I have neglected my studies in the past that’s why I have to go back to some subjects, but I promise to you and to my parents that I will eventually graduate)!” he said.

/MUF