No other claimants, except Tan family, to found jewelry

CEBU, Philippines - A week after pieces of jewelry were found in a dumpsite in barangay Umapad and turned over by the police to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, no one, except the family Vicente Tan, has gone to city hall to claim the items.

Cortes during the conference yesterday said the lawyer representing the family of Vicente Tan, owner of Inday’s Dried Mangoes, went to city hall last week and submitted an affidavit of claim and ownership for the jewelry.

Although it is already clear the family owns the jewelry, he said it is still necessary to follow the legal procedure when claiming the items.

Under the law, whatever treasure is found and turned over to the city mayor to be its custodian, the real owner could claim it but has to show proof of ownership.

The lost and found pieces of jewelry should also be published for two weeks and that a thorough investigation should be conducted.

The police should submit the results of its investigation with regards to the ownership.

Cortes said it is also too early to return the items to the owner because the police are still trying to recover other pieces of jewelry that were found. - THE FREEMAN