Food delivery rider receives $100 from officer at checkpoint

After being flagged down at a checkpoint along España Boulevard, a food delivery rider unexpectedly received $100 from the reprimanding officer.

On May 16, Joshua Basa shared the story of his encounter with the officer on his Facebook account, posting a photo of the money given to him.

Basa said he was driving to pick up a food item in Sta. Mesa, Manila, when he passed by a checkpoint on España.

While lining up with fellow motorcycle riders to be inspected at the checkpoint, he moved to the other queue after seeing another rider do the same.

An officer approached him and scolded him for cutting in line, which Basa said was not his intention.

But the officer was still furious and even asked Basa to surrender his license.

Basa had nothing left to say but apologies, yet the officer continued to give him an earful.

The delivery rider tried his best to explain to the officer and told him he was a struggling working student who needed to fend for himself.

“Katakot takot na sermon inabot ko sakanya. Hanggang sa humaba na pakikipagusap ko saknya todo paliwanag lang ako na istudyante lang ako at need lang talaga kumayod para sa sarili ko,” Basa narrated.

The officer asked him to show his school ID, but all he could present was his ID from his on-the-job training stint.

The officer berated him again, asking why he had money to buy a motorcycle, but none to redeem his driver’s license.

Basa explained that he bought a motorcycle only because he had a hard time commuting from him home in Tondo to his school in Pasay and to his workplace.

While explaining, Basa couldn’t help but cry in front of the officer, especially because he had a rough day with his delivery transactions prior to getting flagged down.

“Kaya masama talaga loob ko buong araw. Tapos bigla nalang sya nagsalita tas dumukot sa wallet nya na akala ko ay titicketan na ko,” Basa said.

To his surprise the officer did not pull out any tickets. Instead the officer handed him $100 and told him, “oh eto, tulong ko sayo.”

At first, Basa was hesitant to accept the money and told the officer, “Ay sir sa inyo na po yan, pasensya lang naman po hinihingi ko sa inyo.”

The officer insisted the working student accept the money, telling him to finish his schooling.

“Tanggapin mo na. Tulong ko sayo yan, gusto ko magtapos ka ha! Ipangako mo sakin!” the officer told Basa.

Basa said the officer’s action touched his heart and he ended up crying even more.

“Pag sabi nya non lalo kong umiyak, hindi ko napansin yung halaga ng pera pero sa mga sinabi nya talaga ko nadala,” Basa narrated.

Basa and the officer shook hands after the encounter. He said he wasn’t able to take a photo with the officer because he got carried away with his emotions.

“Mula sa checkpoint, pag pickup, pag drop ko ng item at pag-uwi ko sa bahay iyak lang ako ng iyak,” Basa said.

At the latter part of his post, he left a message for the officer hoping he would read it.

“Sir! Kung alam mo lang kung gano ko na katagal pinipigilan tong mga luha ko dahil sa mga nangyari sakin netong mga nagdaang araw, sa mga problema tsaka mga bagay bagay na iniisip ko gabi gabi,” Basa said.

“Naiiyak ko na lahat lahat, nakagaan na sa pakiramdam ko, dahil sayo yun sir!” he added.

Basa said even though he neglected his studies in the past, he promised his parents and the officer that he will one day finish school.

“Magkikita pa tayo sir, sana makilala mo pa din ako. Mag-iingat po kayo at pagpalain pa po kayo ng Diyos. Maraming salamat po!” he ended his note. 

Second encounter

By some fortunate coincidence, Basa learned during their second encounter that the officer’s name was, in fact, “Sir.”

Basa said Sirjon Nacino came across his post and messaged him on Facebook.

“Kaya nalaman kong siya po talaga yung tumulong sakin kahapon kaya tinanong ko po kung naka-duty ba sya para makapagpasalamat ako sa kanya ng personal,” Basa said in his follow-up post on Facebook.

After his delivery duty that day, he went straight to where Nacino was posted so he could personally thank him.

Basa said he brought food for Nacino but he refused to take it and told him that he should instead give it to his family.

When Basa asked Nacino why he gave him $100 the other day, the officer answered, “kasi ako dati pasok baon aral lang, kaya bilib ako sa inyong mga working student na kelangan pa magtrabaho para lang makapag aral.”

Basa promised Nacino that he will make it up to him one day.

“Pabiro nalang niya sinabi na, ‘tama yan, magkikita kita pa din tayo sa finals!”

Basa said talking to Nacino felt like he was talking to an older brother.

“Sobrang humble na tao, parang kapatid/kuya ko lang ang kausap ko. Sa napakaikling pag-uusap namin ramdam ko talaga na mabuti siyang tao.”

Basa ended his post by commending officers who continued to do their jobs to protect the country and its citizens.

“Sa buong kapulisan na patuloy na nagseserbisyo para sa kaligtasan nating mga Pilipino, na kahit na minsan ay inilalahat kayo ng ibang tao tuwing may maling nagagawa ang ibang pulis na katulad ninyo, pinagpapatuloy niyo pa din ang paglilingkod sa bayan,” Basa said. “Kaya sa atin po wag po sana natin sila i-lahat dahil meron pa din mga pulis na tapat sa serbisyo at marunong umunawa sa tao.” –  Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News