Cop returns excess P100,000 to bank after teller error

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – A police officer has voluntarily returned P100,000 in cash to a bank after a bank teller had apparently erred and unwittingly handed him double the amount on the check he had encashed on January 15.

Inspector Rafael Banggay Jr., who is assigned with the Central Mindanao police’s community relations office in General Santos City, told a radio station he went to a bank here to have his check encashed.

He said the teller gave him a bundle of P1,000 bills and another bundle of P500 bills.

Banggay said he did not count the money he got because it was indicated on a piece of paper that the bundles had P50,000 each.

He said he put it in his bag and casually left the bank then proceeded to a gasoline station to fill up his vehicle.

Banggay said he was surprised later to find that the total amount handed to him by the bank teller was actually P200,000.

To be sure, he said, he repeatedly counted the bills and it still totaled P200,000.

“Nanganak ang pera ko (my money multiplied),” he recalled thinking.

But because he had to immediately report to office, Banggay said he decided to return to the bank later. Upon reaching his office in General Santos City, he said he called up a relative working in the same bank to report the incident.

“I am assigned with the PNP-12 police community relations officer, I should serve as model,” he said.

Later in the day, he returned the excess cash.

“What is not mine will never be mine, I believe honesty begets honesty,” Banggay replied when asked why he decided to return the money.