CEBU, Philippines - Rogelio Jagopaas is only earning between P500 to P700 daily as taxi driver, an amount that is barely enough for his family’s needs. His wife runs a small sari-sari store in Sitio Upper Lamacan, Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City.
But despite his meager income, it never occurred to him to keep a wallet left by one of his passengers containing P16,090. Instead of using the amount for his personal needs, the taxi driver decided to return the wallet to its rightful owner.
“Gabaan unya ta nga mogasto sa kwarta nga dili ato,” Jagopaas told The FREEMAN after turning over the wallet owned by Koc Guan T. Dy to DYSS broadcaster Bobby Nalzaro.
Dy admired Jagopaas for his honesty saying that he really needed the money for his medicine. According to Dy, the amount was his pension from the Social Security System.
According to Jagopaas, Dy boarded his taxi from the port area at 11 a.m. Sunday and asked him to be transported to Country Club Village in Barangay Banilad. Jagopaas said he remembered his passenger telling him that he lost his wallet.
The passenger even looked for it under the front passenger seat but failed to find it. Jagopaas said when he checked on the seat later he found the wallet and tried to return to Country Club Village but did not find his passenger there.
“Human nako og snack pagka alas tres sa hapon, gisuwayan nako og li-li ang ilawom sa lingkoranan ug didto ra tuod ang pitaka. Wala man siya nako makit-i didto mao nga gihatud na lang nako dinhi sa radio station,” the driver said.
Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella, who admired the driver’s honesty, said he will propose a resolution before the City Council to commend Jagopaas.
“His act of honesty, despite being taxicab driver is worthy of emulation of our young people. Hope there will be more taxicab drivers like him.” - (THE FREEMAN)