CAGAYAN de Oro City — A job-order worker of the Ozamiz City Government showed that honesty can matter most when no one is watching after he turned over ₱200,000 in cash he found at a subdivision in Barangay Malaubang on Sept. 24.
JE Court Flores Luzana found the money at Stephanie Subdivision and reported and surrendered it to the Ozamiz City Police Station later that night.
Police officer on duty PMaj. Jess Rey Rabaca said the cash consisted of four bundles worth ₱50,000 each, all in ₱500 bills.
The money was later traced to PMSg. Gaudencio P. Monopolio Jr. of the Police Regional Office-10 Regional Headquarters, who had reported losing it.
Police verified Monopolio’s claim and matched the records before returning the full ₱200,000 to him.
For Luzana, keeping the cash was not an option.
His decision to turn over the money gave its owner a chance to recover what could have been a major financial loss.
The Ozamiz City Government commended Luzana, saying his action reflected honesty, helpfulness and respect for other people’s property—values it promotes under its “Asenso” framework.
Luzana’s experience also showed that responsibility in public service is not limited to official duties, the city government said.
The simple act of reporting and surrendering lost property ultimately helped return ₱200,000 to the person who had lost it. (With reports from JMOR/PIA-10 Misamis Occidental and LGU Ozamiz)
