Subic employee returns cheque worth P164,250

SUBIC -- Just when we thought honesty was becoming a fading virtue, an employee of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) surrendered to the bank a cheque worth P164,250 that he found in a parking lot here.

“I live a Christian life and as a Christian, it is the right thing to do. And one Christian practice I value is ‘do not take what is not yours’,” said Tristan Madi, a supply officer at the SBMA Tourism Department.

Tristan Madi proudly shows his find. (Photo by Anthony Bayarong)

Madi recalled that he was on his way to his regular workout at the Slimmers’ World on Saturday when he found a pay-to-cash cheque at the parking area of the Banco de Oro branch in this freeport.

The cheque was dated October 18 and issued by an unnamed depositor of the UnionBank Angeles City branch in Pampanga.

Since it was weekend, Madi kept the cheque and waited for Monday to report the incident.

Early this week, Madi went to UnionBank Subic and surrendered the cheque that he found.

UnionBank Subic Bay Freeport branch manager Cecille Oconer, meanwhile, confirmed that they have coordinated with the Angeles City branch to inform the owner of the cheque.

“We are glad that there are still people who choose not to take advantage of the situation, especially when the said cheque was made ‘pay to cash’,” Oconer said.

She added that there were cases when lost cheques were encashed by unauthorized persons.

Madi, who is married with two kids and has been with the SBMA Tourism Department for the last 15 years, said it was his first time to find a lost cheque and would still do the same if he ever found another one.

“If it were mine and I lost it, I would have wanted it returned as well,” Madi said. (Sunnex)