Sack of rice, box of sardines for girl who found P50,000

CEBU, Philippines – Nine-year-old Kathlene Taypin is set to receive to receive a sack of rice and a box of canned sardines from the Cebu Provincial Police Office for surrendering to authorities the money she found in the Malhiao Elementary School in Badian town last Thursday.

On Monday, the Cebu Provincial Police Office will hold a simple ceremony for Taypin, a Grade 3 student of the school, to reward her commendable act of handing over to authorities the P50,000 she found in her school.

The money was believed to be part of the P1.5 million three robbers stole last Wednesday from a spa in Lapu-Lapu City owned by a Japanese. One of the robbers sur-rendered to the police last Saturday.

Chief Insp. Timmar Alim, chief of the Badian Police Station, said that a citizen of the town also invited Kathleen and her three other classmates, their parents and teachers and the Badian police for lunch yesterday.

Sixty-year-old Terry Talledo was in Barangay Lambog, Badian, for a vacation from abroad when he heard of Kathleen's commendable act. This touched and pleased Talledo, who arrange for a get-together with the persons concerned.

A program was also held yesterday at Talledo's house in honor of Taypin and her classmates Gail Aimyh Velos, Jare Ann Sasing, and Nanette Taboada, who helped Taypin tell her teacher about her find.

Talledo expressed his appreciation for the kids, especially to Kathleen for her honesty.

Last Thursday morning, Kathleen was on her way to a grassy area to answer the call of nature when she came upon a huge bundle of P500 bills.

Kathlene called her friends and they decided to tell their adviser Geraldine Nepumoceno about the find. Nepumoceno went to the place where the money was found and brought it to their classroom.

Today, Alim said the Badian Police will also hand over plaques of recognition to the four students in a simple ceremony in the Malhiao Elementary School.

"Wala man ta'y ma-ihatag sa ilaha like cash or unsa. At least, naa'y plaque of recognition," Alim said, adding he will also invite Mayor Robburt Librando to the cere-mony.

Last Saturday one of the robbers who accidentally left the bundle of money surrendered to the police saying his conscience would not let him rest.

Heracleo Palagtiosa Amahan, a baker, is one of the suspects behind the robbery of the spa owned by Shikatsu Hirata in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City last Wednes-day morning.

The other suspects, Jerry Senabre and Limbert Medina, have already gone to Mindanao, as claimed by Amahan.

Amahan rested for a while at the back of the school last Wednesday night then went to his house to stash the P70,000 part of his share. He then left for Liloan, Santander town, without waking up his family.

His wife finally was able to contact him and went after him in Santander where she convinced him to surrender to the Badian police. A total of P100,000 was recovered from him apart from the P50,000 discovered by Kathleen.  (FREEMAN)