With his display of good character, the farmer from Baayan, Tublay, Benguet who returned P133,800.37 worth of cash he found by the roadside on Dec. 24 was rewarded when the director of the Police Regional Office paid for his wife’s unpaid hospital bills.
Mando Alonzo, who found and returned the bag containing cash and important items, was accompanied by personnel of the Tublay Municipal Police Station to the Benguet General Hospital where he paid P37,000 for the surgery of his wife.
Alonzo’s wife, Judith, underwent gall bladder surgery recently and was allowed to be discharged after the latter signed a promissory note to settle the amount as soon as possible.
PRO-Cor Director B/Gen. R’win Pagkalinawan used his own money to help the couple settle their bill.
“Mas kailangan niya ng pera kaysa sa akin,” Pagkalinawan said.
“We are very much thankful. This is a very big help to us, especially because we are no longer bothered with our debt at the hospital. We can never give back what all of you did for us, but God would be the one to bless you,” Alonzo said.
The 51-year-old farmer and his nephew found the bag containing the cash while passing by Baayan Road on their way home on Dec. 24. The bag contained an ID, where the mobile number of the owner was listed.
They brought home the bag, where he discussed with his wife what to do. Alonzo admitted being tempted not to return the money and thought it could be used to pay their debt.
“But we thought of God and the owner who lost the item, and that God has given us conscience to do the right thing,” he said.
On Dec. 25, Alonzo contacted the bag’s owner and they agreed to meet at the Tublay MPS for the turnover of the items.
Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro said they are proud of the show of integrity of Alonzo, whom the municipality recognized last December and was given a token of appreciation.
“What Alonzo did was very inspiring and encouraging not only for the people of Tublay but also for everyone,” Lauro said. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 25, 2024
