1st PNP ‘honesty store’ opens in MPD

The Manila Police District (MPD) has launched the very first “honesty store” in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Saturday night to test the values and honesty of its customers.

Newly-designated MPD director Chief/Supt. Rolando Anduyan named it "Manila's Finest Honesty Store."

"Honesty is the best policy. That is the concept of this. Kung sa maliliit na bagay ay honest ka, paano pa sa malalaking bagay? (If you are honest on little things, how much more on bigger matters?),” MPD Spokesperson Erwin Margarejo told Manila Bulletin.

The store, located at the lobby of the MPD headquarters, offers basic food items such as instant coffee and cup noodles. Their prices are written on the packets. Cups, stirrers, and a hot and cold water dispenser were also placed near the area for the customers to use.

Placed above the food shelf is a plastic box containing bills and coins where the customers are expected to put their payments and get their change.

"It's all up to you dahil pwede kang hindi mag-bayad pero aim kasi nito na ituro sa lahat ang value of honesty," Margarejo said.

Being the first of its kind in the PNP, Margarejo said the store aims to debunk ideas that associate policemen with corruption.

"Ang misconception kasi sa police ay corrupt pero this is one way para patunayan na hindi lahat ng pulis ay kurakot (The misconception is that the police are corrupt but this is one way to prove that not all of them are corrupt," Margarejo said.