A tricycle driver was recognized by the Muntinlupa City government for returning P413,000 in cash to a “balikbayan” passenger.

Dexter Pacquiao was hailed as a “Bayaning Munti” by Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon during the flag-raising ceremony on July 25.

“Congratulations kay Dexter. Dexter, saludo ako sa yo. Mahirap tumbasan yung act of honesty na ginawa mo. Ito dapat ay maging halimbawa sa lahat ng Muntinlupeno. (Congratulations to Dexter. Dexter, I salute you. It is hard to match this act of honesty. This should be an example for all Muntinlupenos),” said Biazon.

Biazon gave Pacquiao a certificate of recognition and a financial incentive for his commendable act.

Last July 14, a “balikbayan” from Switzerland, who is a resident of Barangay Cupang, was a passenger of Pacquiao in Alabang and she left a bag containing P413,000 in his tricycle.

“Nung time na yon, may hinatid akong pasahero sa palengke. Pagbalik ko may isang pasaherong sumakay papuntang Garcip . Tapos bumaba siya sa may Garcip mismo (That time, I took a passenger to the public market. On my return, a passenger rode going to Garcip. Then the passenger alighted at Garcip),” said Pacquiao in a video provided by the city government.

Pacquiao told Manila Bulletin that he did not know that a paper bag was left in his tricycle by the passenger. He was already plying the road three times when he saw a chat by the head of the barangay police asking if there was a paper bag that was left in his tricycle without saying that it contained money.

He checked his tricycle, saw the paper bag, and informed the head of the barangay police.

Pacquiao went to Cupang barangay hall and returned the money. He also met the passenger who thanked him for his act.

According to Pacquiao, “Ang nasa isip ko kasi noon, kahit ganito nangyari, may sakit ang anak ko noong time na yon, pero hindi ko pinag-interesan ang pera kasi hindi naman sa akin yon. Ibabalik ko talaga kasi mahirap na yung karma. Doble-doble sa pamilya pagdating ng panahon (What was on my mind that time was even if this happened because my child was sick at the time, I did not take interest in the money because it did not belong to me. I would really return it because it is hard to face karma. It will pile up when the time comes).”

Danidon Nolasco, head of the Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau, said the “balikbayan” went to Cupang barangay hall and through a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, the tricycle was identified.

Biazon met Pacquiao at his office and gave him a financial reward.

“Siyempre masaya kasi nakatulong rin ako dun sa nawalan ng pera. At saka yung perang binigay kanina makakatulong din sa pamilya ko kasi nakikitira lang kami sa biyenan ko. Nakikitira ako sa biyenan ko kasi wala na akong pambayad sa bahay (Of course I am happy because I helped someone who lost money. And the money that was given to me will help my family because we are staying with my in-law. We are staying with my in-law because I don’t have the money to pay for the house ,” he said.