Memorable christmas for scavengers: Money owner vows rewards

CEBU – “I will make their Christmas memorable”

This was the promise of the businessman who owns the $60,000, which was accidentally dumped at the Inayawan landfill, to scavengers if he will recover all or the bulk of the amount.

Emiliano Tanpin Jr. also promised a reward to the 26-year-old scavenger who returned his part of the amount found by his brother.

Tanpin, who is a member of the civic group Lions International, said his group will distribute rice to the scavengers this Christmas.

Tanpin promised the reward as the National Bureau of Investigation recovered more of the missing amount yesterday at the Inayawan Barangay Hall.

The NBI has so far recovered a total of $20,500 out of the $60,000 reportedly thrown at the dumpsite last Wednesday.

Inayawan Barangay Captain Rustico Ignacio turned over yesterday noon to NBI agent Bernard Dela Cruz the $3,500 surrendered to him by Victoria Candido.

The turnover was witnessed by Tanpin who counted the money before it was given to the NBI for safekeeping.

Dela Cruz said he would temporarily keep the recovered amount until the formal turnover to the owner on Monday.

But Dela Cruz explained that there are still documents that need to be prepared before the money will be formally given to the owner.

He said Tanpin needs to execute an affidavit that he is the rightful owner of the money.

Dela Cruz said this is necessary because there might be other people who will come out later to also claim ownership of the money.

Candido turned over her share of the money to the barangay hall Friday afternoon after learning that her nephew Julie Compisto has already surrendered his part to the NBI and admitted that she kept part of the amount.

She said she only got $6,000 and already spent $2,500.

Compisto turned over the $17,000 to the NBI last Friday after he knew that the owner was looking for the money. He admitted though that he took $500 and gave it to his friend.

Although he knows that the money can change his life, Compisto, who grew up in the landfill where he earns a living, said he decided to return the money.

According to him, even if he has no education and was earning only P30 a day from selling recyclable garbage, he has no intention to keep the money.

Compisto’s honesty is expected to pay off after Tanpin promised to give him a reward.

But Tanpin did not reveal how much he is giving to Compisto. “Basta dili siya magmahay nako.”

However, Tanpin will no longer give reward Candido since she already spent $2,500 of the money.

Tanpin admitted he did not see the sincerity in Candido because she spent part of the money even if she was already aware that the owner was looking for it.

In fact, Candido denied keeping part of the money when the NBI agents investigating the case visited her.

She was only forced to return the money when Compisto told the NBI that she kept some of the amount. — /LPM (THE FREEMAN)