Rightful owners of gold bracelet found

CEBU, Philippines - The rightful owners of the 18-karat gold bracelet found among donated used clothes have already been identified and will soon get back their lost jewelry.

City attorney Joseph Bernaldez yesterday said the rightful owners of the bracelet were able to show proof that it belonged to their deceased mother.

Last April 15, Mayor Michael Rama endorsed to the city attorney the letter of Sabino Chua and Victor Chua, the owner of the Cathay Hardware in Plaridel St., claiming ownership of the gold bracelet which had belonged to their mother, Paulita, who was fond of precious jewelry.

The two said on the evening of April 5, Victor and the employees of their establishment were removing some personal belongings from their store and among of them was a box containing the dresses of their late mother.

“Upon seeing from the top portion of the box that it contents were old clothes of our late mother already gathering dust, I (Victor) immediately instructed our workers to give them to the sidewalk settlers sleeping nearby that they may be able to make use of it,” they said.

It was on April 6 when they were informed by the policemen about the gold bracelet recovered from sidewalk vendors Orly Sambilon and Lorelie Pongcol.

It was Orly who found the bracelet which he gave to his live-in partner Pongcol, she had been about to pawn the bracelet for P50,000 when police came to question her.

In support to their claim, Victor and Sabino made the letter under oath so that it may be treated as their affidavit of claim of ownership. They said that they are willing to meet in conference with the mayor with regards to their claim.

Bernaldez, in his letter to the mayor, said he was convinced that Victor and Sabino were the rightful owners of the bracelet.

“I have perused their letter with documentary attachments and I am convinced that their claim is impressed with merit,” Bernaldez said. He said that their claim that the bracelet belongs to their mother was well corroborated by witnesses in addition to their own sworn statements.

Bernaldez recommended to Rama that the bracelet must be returned to the heirs of Paulita Dy citing Article 719 of the Civil Code, which states “that whoever finds a movable, which is not treasured, must be returned to its previous possessor.”

Also, under the Civil Code, the mayor has the duty to publicize the lost-and-found item, and if no one rightfully claims it after six months, only then can the “finder” keep it.

The bracelet is now in the custody of the City Treasurer’s Office.  (FREEMAN)