Taxi driver returns P. 4M Rolex watch

Dictated by conscience, a 39-year-old taxi driver returned a P400,000 Rolex watch left behind in his taxi.

Joel Conde returned the Rolex watch to its owner Alejandro Guantero, Jr. in the Waterfront Police Station yesterday noon.

Guantero has been looking for his watch since he lost it last April 18.

He traced the taxi from the CCTV footage of Pier 1 where he boarded the taxi last Thursday.

They contacted Conde at the office of MC and G taxi last Monday afternoon at the Waterfront Police Station, but Conde said he did not find the watch.

It was only yesterday morning while he was cleaning his car, with his brother Rolando, when he found the pricey wristwatch and reported it to the police.

Asked why he felt the need to return the watch, he said it was because of his conscience.

“Tungod jud sa akong konsensiya. Dili ko gusto mugunit ug butang nga dili ako. Dili ko makatulog ug tarong,” the 39-year-old Joel Conde told Cebu Daily News.

(It’s because of my conscience. I don’t want to keep things I do not own. I could not sleep well.)

Conde who has been a taxi driver for 16 years, said that every time he finds things left behind by his passengers, he would always find a way to return it to its rightful owner.

He recalled that he once went to a TV station to return a bag  left inside his taxi.

Asked if he is expecting a reward, Joel said he was not.

“Wala ko nag-expect nga naay ihatag sa ako. Kung naa sila’y ihatag, okay ra naku. Ug wala, okay ra pud nako. Basta kaning akong gihimo kay tungod ni sa akong konsensiya,” Joel told CDN.

(I am not expecting anything in return. If they will give something in reward, it’s okay with me. If there’s noen, its still fine with me.)

Conde, a resident of sitio Daquit, barangay Guadalupe has seven children.

Guantero said he was very happy that the watch was return. He admitted he has almost given up recovering the Rolex which given to him as a gift from his wife.

Guantero also said that he was grateful that there are still honest and good people like Conde.

Police Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu who witnessed the turnover said Conde deserves to be given public recognition for his honesty.