KAMPO HENERAL PACIANO RIZAL, Sta. Cruz, Laguna – Members of the Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) spent Valentine's Day with a child burn survivor in Barangay Labuin in Sta Cruz, Laguna.
After celebrating the "My Brother’s Keeper" Valentine's Day at the Laguna PPO with acting provincial director Col. Rogarth Campo who distributed sacks of rice to the police personnel, the members of Laguna PPO decided to visit burn victim Brenda Tamporas.
Tamporas, 10, had her legs amputated after suffering from third degree burn.
The police officers, through Master Sergeant Edwin De Mesa, saw the Facebook post of a concerned citizen appealing for help for Tamporas' basic necessities and medicines, and decided to do their part to help the girl.
De Mesa, the members of the Logistics Division of Laguna PPO, and the barangay tanod of Barangay Labuin, visited Tamporas and gave to her family the sack of rice, two grocery packs, and P1,000 cash.
"Naantig talaga ang puso ko nung nakita ko ‘yon kaya’t sabi ko sa asawa ko, kailangan may magawa ako para sa batang iyon,” De Mesa said (My heart was touched when I saw the girl's plight. I told my wife I had to do something for this child and her family.).
Tamporas’ mother was crying as she thanked the police officers for their "love offerings" to her family on Valentine's Day.
“Lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat dahil talagang kailangan po namin ito at paminsan-minsan lang po ang mga pagkakataon na ganito na nakakatanggap kami ng tulong lalong-lalo na po ngayong pandemya na nangangailangan din ang mga tao,” she said. (We are very grateful because we badly needed help. It's not often that we can get assitance like this, especially since we are in the middle of a pandemic.)
Campo encouraged his personnel to continue to extend their blessings especially to those who are less fortunate without expecting for anything in return.