Lost valuables returned, honest cop refuses reward

The smile of a thankful mother of a breast cancer patient was enough reward for this honest policeman.

Erlinda Fleming recovered her lost bag that contained US $2,093 (about P90,000), P8,500 cash, two gold rings, a pair of earrings and some important documents including her passport.

Out of gratitude, the 63-year-old native of barangay Quiot in Cebu City, who is now based in Alaska, USA offered a reward to SPO2 Isagani Ceniza, a member of the Cebu City Public Safety Batallion.

But Ceniza politely rejected the offer, saying “A Smile is enough reward for me.”

For Ceniza, seeing the balikbayan’s face lit up upon finding her lost valuables was enough, especially after he learned that the money would be used to pay for the chemotherapy sessions of Fleming’s eldest daughter.

Fleming returned to Cebu City last September 10 to attend to her daughter’s medical treatment. She accidentally left her beltbag in the taxi last Friday afternoon.

Fleming saw a television report about Ceniza’s act of turning over the beltbag that he found in a taxi last Monday.

She commended Ceniza for his honesty and hopes that others would emulate him. Ceniza was also earlier applauded by his fellow policemen. Senior Supt. Noli Romana, chief of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), urged the public to emulate Ceniza’s act.

Ceniza and his wife, Ma. Gina, took a taxi on their way home to barangay Quiot when he found the bag at the back of the driver’s seat.

He asked about the bag but Noel Eraña, the driver of the Tetsoknee Taxi, was not aware of it.

Ceniza reported the lost items to the Guadalupe Police Station after the driver told him that the last passenger was dropped off in barangay Oprra.

Ceniza then went to the CCPO headquarters yesterday to turn over to Romana the lost and found valuables.