MANILA, Philippines - Police rescued a 91-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease as he was about to give away more than two million in dollars and pesos he was carrying with him in Mandaluyong City yesterday.
Miguel Calimbas, a retired lawyer, was about to distribute his money to bystanders at the corner of EDSA and Reliance street in Barangay Barangka Ilaya when police officers from Police Community Precinct 3 took custody of him at around 5:30 p.m., said Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Eastern Police District director.
He was also carrying a steel bar, apparently to ward off “anybody out to harm him,” Sapitula said.
Police officers brought him to the barangay hall. In the presence of barangay officials, they conducted an inventory of the contents of Calimbas’ pants pockets: 247 $100 bills; 40 $50 bills; 163 $1,000 bills; 226 P500 bills and an antique US gold coin.
Police officers and barangay officials learned that Calimbas was staying at the Sonata Private Residences Condominium in Barangay Wack-Wack. They brought him home and turned him over to a relative, Clarinda Calamas, who said he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Sapitula said.