In Iloilo City, taxi driver Anthony Barredo Aguirre demonstrated remarkable honesty when he returned a bag containing P2.4 million left by a passenger in his vehicle.
According to a report by Zen Quilantang-Sasa on GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas on Tuesday, Aguirre, a resident of Barangay Amparo in Pavia, Iloilo, discovered the bag after his operator called to ask if any belongings had been left in the taxi. Checking the passenger side, Aguirre found the bag tucked under a seat. Instead of keeping it, he immediately brought it to Police Station 8.
The bag belonged to a man named Rudy from Palawan, who had been traveling with his wife and grandchildren.
“Nowadays, honesty is rare. Even those with jobs face financial struggles. But he didn’t hesitate to return it,” said Police Captain Lester Oliveros, chief of Police Station 8.
Aguirre shared that he always returns items left behind by passengers, empathizing with those who lose their belongings. Despite not expecting any monetary reward, Aguirre expressed gratitude for being able to do the right thing.
His wife, Ma. Elna, said she was proud of her husband’s decision. “I’m happy with what my husband did. We’re in need, but it wasn’t ours to keep,” she said.
The Iloilo City government praised Aguirre’s integrity and announced they would award him ₱20,000 and recognize him as an “honorary citizen.”
