Pangasinan taxi driver returns $5,600 to passenger

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Despite the financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a taxi driver in this city returned $5,600 or more than P250,000, which was left behind by a woman passenger on Wednesday.

Rolly Callejo Sr., 51, a resident of Barangay Malued, told The STAR yesterday that he initially thought the 56 pieces of P100-dollar bills in an envelope left in the passenger seat were play money.

He said he took a selfie while holding the money and sent it to his fellow driver, who also thought he was only poking fun at him.

”I don’t know what real US dollars look like,” Callejo said.

While driving around the city, he said he decided to return to where he dropped off his last passenger.

Callejo said he found the woman, who looked worried, in front of her house.

He said the woman was very happy and cried when he asked her if she was looking for the envelope that she left in his taxi.

Callejo said the woman gave him money as a token of appreciation.

“That’s just money. I would really return it because it’s not mine,” Callejo, who said he has four children, stressed.