Bulacan guard, tricycle driver cited for honesty

MALOLOS CITY — It was a tough act to follow in these hard times, but it surely was worth emulating.

Thus, two Bulakeños — a security guard of the provincial hospital and a tricycle driver — have been getting praises and commendations from different sectors for returning more than P57,000 in cash to their owners last week.

According to provincial administrator Gladys Sta. Rita, security guard Jun de Leon was on routine inspection when he found a wallet containing P27,160 cash near the hospital’s social welfare office.

De Leon promptly reported his find to his superior who, in turn, managed to locate the wallet’s owner, Julie Gaspar, sobbing in the hospital premises.

Meanwhile, tricycle driver Fred Anthony Benedictos found a shoulder bag containing P30,000 cash and a mobile phone inside his vehicle after he had brought his passenger, Sr. Graciela Manuel, to the convent of Sta. Isabel Church here.

Benedictos immediately told the president of their transport group about the bag. Hours later, Manuel came looking for Benedictos at the tricycle terminal only to learn that the latter was also looking for her.

"Nagpapatunay lamang ito na hindi hadlang ang pagiging mahirap upang maging matapat ang tao (This only proves that being poor does not prevent an individual from being honest)," said Malolos City Mayor Danilo Domingo. — Dino Balabo