The Malabon City government has recognized a City Hall employee who returned a cellphone and P30,000 cash which were left by taxpayers in a mall in the city last January.

Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval handed over a certificate of recognition to Emiliano Reyes, from the Mayor’s Complaint and Action Team (MCAT), during the flag ceremony at the Malabon Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 6.

The city government said that Reyes found the lost cellphone of a taxpayer last Jan. 14 when he was on duty at the Robinsons Town Mall in the city for the resident’s registration of the Malabon Ahon Blue Card. The same thing happened with the P30,000 cash on Jan. 20.

He directly returned the retrieved items to the owners.

“Taos-puso namang nagpasalamat ang may-ari ng cellphone sa agad na pakikipag-ugnayan ni Mr. Reyes upang maisauli ang kanyang mga naiwang kagamitan (The owner of the cellphone who immediately coordinated with Mr. Reyes thanked him fo the recovery of his lost device),” the local government said.

“Hindi dapat kunin ang bagay na hindi mo pagmamay-ari at pinaghirapan ng iba. Bilang public servant dapat maging tapat tayo, may nakakakita man o wala (You shouldn't take something that doesn't belong to you and that someone else worked hard for. As public servants, we must be honest, whether someone sees it or not),” Reyes said.

During the ceremony, the city mayor also shared the city’s achievements since the start of January 2023, including the more than 2,000 patients assisted by the Ospital ng Malabon, over 5,000 medicine supplies distributed by the Potrero Super Health Center to residents in need, 1,200 individuals who were provided with various interventions (drug tests, and counseling), and the distribution of more than 7,000 Malabon Ahon school kits to 28 elementary schools in the city.

She also shared some of the activities and programs that the city government will implement in the coming days such as recognition of special awards to the city’s top tax payers, and a pageant for the residents.

“Sisikapin din po nating mapirmahan ang ordinansa na magtatatag ng Housing and Urban Development Department nang sa gayon ay mapalawig pa natin ang mga programang pabahay (We will also work on signing the ordinance that will establish the Housing and Urban Development Department so that we can extend our housing programs)," Sandoval said.

“Nawa'y sabay-sabay po nating pagtagumpayan ang mga darating na hamon sa ating lungsod. Ngayong buwan ng pag-ibig, ipagpatuloy natin ang paghahatid ng matapat na serbisyo sa lahat (May we together overcome the upcoming challenges in our city. In this month of love, let us continue to deliver honest service to all),” she added.

Present during the ceremony were Vice-Mayor Ninong Dela Cruz, city councilors, city department heads, and employees.