MMDA rescue team returns ‘bundles’ of US dollars to road accident victim

Three MMDA Road Emergency Group members were lauded for returning a bag containing bundles of U.S. dollars equivalent to more than P4 million after responding to a road accident on Tuesday.

The MMDA team responded to the accident that involved a sports utility vehicle and a truck along the southbound lane of the C5 Road in Taguig City at 3:59 a.m.

According to Mariel Bacho, one of the rescue personnel, they found Thomas Dichavez inside the Mitsubishi Montero in an inclined position and pulled him out immediately from the vehicle.

While searching for the victim’s identification card, a male bystander, who was the first to arrive at the accident scene handed the rescue personnel a sling bag found inside Dichavez’ car.

Bacho and the other members of the responding MMDA rescue team Kristopher Concepcion and Sheena Santillan then surrendered the victim’s belongings to security personnel of the St Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City where Dichavez was rushed for treatment.

Bacho said it was only at the hospital where they learned about what was inside the victim’s bag.

“When we saw the bundles of U.S. dollars inside the bag, it never crossed our mind to take it. We are also thankful to the male bystander who found the bag inside the vehicle,” Bacho said.

Bacho also explained that it was not the first time valuables were returned to road accident victims as it is part of their training as MMDA road emergency personnel to return items recovered from accident scenes.

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim commended the MMDA Road Emergency Group personnel calling their exemplary and admirable character of truthfulness “worthy of emulation.”  /muf