| QUOTE (Uzi 0 @ Jun 15 2006, 12:58 PM) |
| http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?ind...&story_id=79139 First posted 11:32pm (Mla time) June 14, 2006 By Anselmo Roque Inquirer Editor's Note: Published on Page A14 of the June 15, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer AN honest Army major who returned P300,000 to a bank died before he could be given recognition by his superiors. Maj. Roberto Manlapat, a disbursing officer of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, was riding his motorcycle when he met an accident in Cabanatuan City on June 4. Manapat had returned P300,000 in excess withdrawal to the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Cabanatuan City on May 19. The Philippine Army yesterday announced that the Army leadership would posthumously award Manlapat’s family a Command Plaque of Appreciation on June 19 during the regular flag-raising ceremony at the Fort Bonifacio Army headquarters. The same plaque of appreciation would also be given to TSgt. Danilo Morga, who withdrew the money with Manlapat. According to Mernilo Ocampo, head of the Land Bank Cabanatuan branch, Manlapat and Morga made a withdrawal of P17 million which represented the May salaries of the officers and men of the division and their mid-year bonus. Upon arrival in the camp, he requested Morga to help him recount the money. Manlapat did not hesitate to return the money, saying “it does not belong to me.” He immediately called LBP officials and returned the money on the same day it was withdrawn. On Sunday morning, his colleagues at the Archbishop Gabriel Reyes Assembly of the Knights of Columbus were supposed to surprise him with a citation. It was then that they learned about the accident. The citation was read during the assembly’s ceremony at the Fort Magsaysay Catholic Church. Manlapat, 52, was recently installed a fourth degree Knights of Columbus member. A native of Arayat, Pampanga, Manlapat joined the Army in 1974 as a private and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1983. He was scheduled for interview next week for his possible promotion to lieutenant colonel. He was finance officer in Camp Aguinaldo for six years until he was transferred to the 7th ID two years ago. “They made the withdrawal before lunch. After lunch, they returned the P300,000,” Ocampo related. “I wrote them a letter saying thank you. The mistake was made by our tellers,” he added. Ocampo directly wrote Manlapat on May 22 expressing the Land Bank management’s “gratitude, sincerity and recognition” for what he and Morga did. Ocampo said he heard the news from Manlapat’s colleagues. “Maybe it’s the will of God,” he quietly said. Bacarro said even before Manlapat’s death, the Army has already decided to give him an award. |