Cop returns P100T, other items he found

CEBU, Philippines - “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”

This is what SPO2 Isagani Ceniza said, quoting from the Bible (Luke 16:10-12), when asked what made him decide to look for the owner of cash and valuables he found.

Ceniza, 52, a jail guard of the Cebu City Police Office, could have bought anything he needed after he found more than P100,000 in cash and valuables in bag inside the cab he rode home to in Barangay Quiot with his wife last Friday afternoon.

Ceniza was unloading groceries they bought when he noticed a black belt bag at the floor of the cab behind the driver’s seat. The driver of Tetsoknee Taxi, Noel Eraña, denied owning the bag and both exchanged numbers in case the owner will look for it.

As a police officer, Ceniza decided to check the bag and found $2,093 (P89,999); P8,500 cash, two gold rings, a pair of earrings and some important documents.

Based on a passport recovered, the items were owned by Erlinda Fleming, 63, who lived at #768 E 74th Ave. Apartment B. Anchorage, Alaska 99818.

“Sige kog check wa gyud address niya diri sa Cebu pero ingon ang driver nga sa Oprra kuno niya gi-drop,” Ceniza said.

Ceniza called the police stations of Fuente and Guadalupe to report the lost belt bag just in case the owner will drop by and have the incident recorded. Ceniza even called up radio station dyAB to report the found item.

“So far wala pa may ni-claim and hope this time through the media ma-claim na unta,” Ceniza said.

He said he was never tempted to keep the cash for himself.

“Gamay ra ni nga butang para nako ang akong gusto mauli ni sa tag-iya,” he said.

Senior Supt. Noli Romana, CCPO director, said that Ceniza is a model to other police officers and to the community.

“Pinupuri natin ang gawaing ganyan dahil isang siya magandang ehemplo sa PNP at sa gobyerno na hindi pala masama gaya ng iniisip ng iba,” Romana said.  (FREEMAN)