Finders question gold bracelet's release to Chuas

CEBU, Philippines - The couple who found the controversial 18-karat gold bracelet in donated used clothing has questioned the City Hall’s release of the jewelry to the owners of Cathay Hardware.

Orly Sambilon and Lorelie Pongcol complained to Mayor Michael Rama and insisted that the P200,000 worth of gold bracelet was not owned by the Chua siblings but rather by a certain Mrs. Paz, owner of the Solid Gold Pawnshop, who used to occupy the building now occupied by Cathay Hardware.

Sambilon and Pongcol from whom the bracelet was recovered by the Theft and Robbery Section yesterday went to City Hall to insist to Rama that Sabino and Victor Chua are not the rightful owners.

 “Wala lang to ni-insist ang mga anak ni Mrs. Paz kay di sila ganahan og gubot,” Pongcol said.

Sambilon said that when he found the bracelet, it has a tag marked with “Solid Gold Pawnshop” which he removed immediately not knowing that it could be an important evidence.

Had the city returned the item to the rightful owners, they should have remained silent and gladly entrust the bracelet to the owner, the couple said. But they believe that the Chua siblings claimed an item that does not belong to them.

They also lamented for not having received a single centavo for their effort to surrender the bracelet to the City Hall while the rightful owner is being traced.

 “Maayo pa man ang TRS ilang gihatagan og diyes mil (P10,000), kami hinuon nga nakakita, wala,” Sambilon alleged.

Sambilon said it was the employee of Cathay Hardware who told them that the Chuas have rewarded the police.

“Asa naman diay tong 10 percent na giingon nila nga bahin namo kay kami ang nakakuha sa breacelet?” he added.

He is referring to Article 720 of the Civil Code of the Philippines which says that if the owner appears, the finder gets to keep 10 percent of the value of the thing found.

The bracelet was returned to the Chuas last May 16 at the City Legal Office with City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez and Assistant City Treasurer Emma Villarete as witnesses.

But the couple said they were not informed or even invited during the turn over.

Sambilon and Pongcol doubt the ingenuity of the evidence presented by the Chuas to the city legal office and the city treasurer’s office.

Pongcol said after claiming the item, the Chuas have completely neglected them and refuse to acknowledge them when they meet. (FREEMAN)