PHP 100K cash flies out of lady rider’s pocket; only PHP 22K recovered

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Only PHP 22,000 of PHP 100,000 in cash was returned to a female motorcycle rider after her bundled money slipped out of her pocket and was blown away by the wind in Iloilo City.

The incident happened while Mercy Yutig was crossing Drilon Bridge in Barangay Progreso, Lapuz.

Yutig, a resident of Barangay Loboc, Lapuz, told authorities the PHP 100,000 was payment for a relative’s trucking business.

She placed the bundled money in her pocket, but the paper strap apparently snapped without her noticing.

The PHP 1,000 bills were then blown away by the wind.

The incident caused a traffic jam after taxi drivers, residents, and passersby began picking up the scattered money.

With the help of Iloilo City government employee Roland Doromal and on-duty personnel from the Iloilo City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement Unit, Yutig recovered PHP 22,000.

When a traffic investigator was called to check on the traffic jam, he was informed about the cash scattered on the road.

Police Cpl. Romeo Fuego and Doromal then asked witnesses to return the money.

“Some returned but most did not,” Maj. Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said.

Sangrines said about PHP 10,000 was reportedly planned to be returned to police authorities.

She said police would secure CCTV footage in the area to help identify those who took and kept the cash.

Sangrines said authorities still hope some individuals will voluntarily return the money.