HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY: Benguet taxi driver returns bag with over ₱100,000, earns praise

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A taxi driver from La Trinidad, Benguet, is earning praise for his honesty after returning a passenger’s backpack containing more than ₱100,000 in cash that was accidentally left inside his vehicle.

Francisco B. Echala, 32, found the bag on Wednesday, October 21, after dropping off a passenger at Newtown, Baguio City.

According to the Department of Transportation-Cordillera (DOTr-CAR), Echala had picked up the passenger at the Partas Bus Station terminal between 9 and 10 a.m.

After discovering the forgotten backpack, the driver checked its contents and found a large amount of cash. Instead of keeping the money, he immediately brought the bag to the office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Cordillera (LTFRB-CAR) and turned it over with the entire amount intact.

The DOTr-CAR praised Echala’s actions, describing them as a reminder of the honesty expected of public transport drivers who serve commuters daily.

Echala, who holds a professional driver’s license, drives a taxi operating under the trade name 3 Lyndonette.

His gesture adds to reported instances of taxi drivers in Baguio City and Benguet returning lost belongings, including cash, wallets, mobile phones and bags, to their rightful owners.

In a world where trust can be difficult to find, Echala’s simple but meaningful act shows that honesty remains alive in everyday acts of service—and that doing the right thing matters even when no one is watching.