COMPASSION IN UNIFORM: KALINGA TOP COP PAYS FOR MILK STOLEN BY MAN FOR HIS BABY  

THE chief of police of Tabuk City Police Station in Kalinga who offered to pay for the infant milk stolen from a store by a jobless young construction worker in order to feed his baby earned praises not only from his fellow cops and the netizens but also from Philippine National Police acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr..

According to Nartatez, Lt. Col. Jack Angog showed real “compassion in uniform” when he paid for the box of formula milk stolen by the man.

Angog also appealed to the store management not to pursue any criminal case against the accused.

The desperate father was caught by Talavera Supermart store personnel stealing a box containing 1.725 kilograms of the formula milk.

The theft was seen on the establishment’s CCTV camera last October 29.

The suspect was turned over to the Tabuk City Police Sub-Station 2 in Bgy. Bulanao.

The situation that began in desperation turned into a story of compassion when the local police discovered that the man recently lost his job after their construction project ended. He was also left to care for his baby alone when his partner abandoned them.

Driven by hunger and desperation, the man admitted taking the milk to feed his baby.

Instead of judgment, the laborer found compassion in the heart of  Angog who personally paid for the stolen item to spare the man from imprisonment and give him a chance to rebuild his life.

“The PNP does not condone any form of theft or wrongdoing.  But we must also remember that behind every violation is often a story of hardship. This is where compassionate leadership must take place—to enforce the law firmly, but with understanding and empathy. That is the true essence of public service,” Nartatez said.

The top cop said that while the law must always be upheld, the PNP recognizes that acts of kindness like this can transform a moment of weakness into a chance for redemption.

The PNP continues to promote this balanced approach through the PNP Focused Agenda, which aims to build a brand of policing that is efficient, people-centered, and rooted in integrity and active community support — a reminder that true public service extends beyond law enforcement into uplifting lives, he explained.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf T. Tuaño said the story of the man who stole milk for his baby reminds them that wearing the uniform also means carrying a heart for those who suffer.

“Our personnel are guided by the principle that enforcing the law must always be tempered with understanding and humanity. This incident underscores the human face of policing—where justice and empathy co-exist in harmony,” Tuaño said.

“In every corner of service, the PNP strives to prove that the true power of the badge lies not only in authority—but in empathy, compassion, and understanding,” he added.