Soldier returns wallet with P4,500 check

MANILA, Philippines - An Army soldier based in the Visayas has earned praises after returning a wallet containing a check for P4,500 to its owner.

Sgt. Wenceslao Pabito Jr., a member of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, returned the wallet he found at the Iloilo Airport last June 13.

Pabito was providing security for the arrival of Vice President Jejomar Binay when he found the wallet near the garbage area of the airport.

Pabito immediately turned over the wallet to a local radio reporter covering Binay’s arrival.

The wallet’s owner is a certain Anthony Cortel, an employee of Hotel Del Rio in Iloilo City.

“Mr. Cortel was so happy that his wallet was (found) by a kind-hearted person, otherwise it would no longer be returned to him,” said Maj. Enrico Ileto, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.

In a statement released by the Army, Pabito said he decided to return the wallet after the needs of its owner crossed his mind.

He said he could not afford to keep or use the wallet’s contents since he does not own them.

Last February, Privates Danny Faigane and Marlon Vera of the 32nd Infantry Division’s Reconnaissance Company returned to its owner the P90,000 cash they found in a retrieval site in La Libertad, Negros Oriental.

The following month, Cpl. Fernando Samperoy of the 47th Infantry Battalion returned a bag left at the parking area of a cathedral in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

The bag containing P50,000 cash belonged to Fr. Leopoldo Cahilig, parish priest of Isabela, Negros Occidental.

“These stories which tell of our soldiers’ honesty continue to inspire the entire Army and portray how we value honesty in the organization,” said Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., 3rd ID commander. 

Col. Arnold Quiapo, chief of the Army’s 301st IB, said Pabito’s honesty was worth emulating, adding that Pabito had given honor and pride to the entire Army.