Army Reservist Corporal Elmer Bauson Cervantes from the 303rd Community Defense Center (303rd CDC) of the 3rd Regional Community Defense Group (3rd RCDG) showed his integrity and selflessness by returning the lost wallet of the former mayor of Angeles City, Pampanga Atty. Edgardo D. Pamintuan on October 14, 2023.
While Cpl. Cervantes was on his way home to his family, he walked past a restaurant and saw a wallet lying by the roadside of Brgy. Sto. Cristo in Angeles. Upon checking the wallet, it contains a cash of Php11,200.00 and personal identification cards which belonged to the former mayor. Atty. Pamintuan served as a mayor of Angeles City from 1992 to 1998 and from 2010 to 2019.
Without any hesitation, he immediately called Atty. Pamintuan and reported that he will return his lost wallet. The former mayor extended his profound gratitude to Cpl. Cervantes for displaying honesty and integrity as a public servant. "Even during these trying times, it is nice to know that there are still men who keep their values intact and continue to live an upright and honest life," the former mayor said.
Cpl. Cervantes entered the reserve force on June 13, 2017 to fulfill his dream of serving the country as an Army soldier. Every second week of the month, he attends the regular mustering of reserve troops of the 303rd CDC to accomplish his obligations in the military community. He is currently a foreman among various projects in Pampanga and a loving husband to Mrs. Elvira Policarpio and six children.
The Army leadership lauded the selfless act of Cpl. Cervantes for possessing an immeasurable character and exhibiting strong ethical and moral principles to his fellow countrymen, which served as a true embodiment of an Army soldier.