3 Filipinos in Dubai praised for returning purses with woman’s remittance money

  DUBAI – A jobhunter who lost her purses with money that she was supposed to send home to her family got a nice surprise after three Filipinos found the items and returned them. Speaking to Expatmedia.net, April de Leon Locquiao said she has nothing but praise and admiration for the honesty of Filipino accountants Ma Abegail Murillo, Jhoana Sicat and Anna Sylvia Allaba. The trio had returned the purses that belonged to Locquiao and her friend, Ciara Lee Santos, hours after they lost it as they were walking towards a money exchange centre to send money home. “We wanted to hug them, and we were very happy and very thankful that they found the purses. I offered a reward but they refused. I asked that we take remembrance photos instead,” said Santos, saying that her compatriots restored her faith in people’s honesty. The Filipina once experienced having her wallet stolen in Dubai. Thankfully, police were able to retrieve the wallet.

Losing purses in Deira

Locquiao and Santos were walking near WeMart Supermarket in Deira on Tuesday (December 15) when the purses fell from their trolley. “We didn’t realize that the pocket of the trolley was damaged. We were walking towards a money exchange centre to send money home. When we got there, we realized we lost the purses,” Locquiao told Expatmedia.net. One of the purses contained Dh400, Emirates ID, a visit visa document and two Nol cards. The other purse contained coins and the key to their apartment. The duo was frantic after realising that the purses were missing. “I tried to retrace our steps and check if the purses were still there. I even asked around our building if anyone spotted the purses. No one had any idea. We were losing hope. I felt so guilty because I had insisted on bringing that trolley,” Santos told Expatmedia.net. The Filipina cashier admitted she didn’t have high hopes of finding the purses after her previous experience of having her wallet stolen. Thankfully, police were able to retrieve her wallet. This time, she felt responsible for the lost purses. Santos said Locquiao was heartbroken. “It was the only money she had left. Even though she’s still looking for work after losing her job, she really wanted to send that money to her family,” Santos said.

Filipina finder was paying it forward

Thankfully that night, Locquiao received a message she didn’t expect. Murillo contacted her to say that she and her friends have found her purses, and agreed to meet them to return the items. Speaking to Expatmedia.net, Murillo said their first thought was to find the owner of the items. “We just had to return the purses, especially now that we are in difficult times. We just thought that the owner must surely be worried. We don’t know her situation and how she has been affected by the pandemic,” Murillo told Expatmedia.net. The Filipina said it was more important to be honest. “It was how we have been brought up at home. Also, I lost some items in the past that were returned to me. I am happy to be able to pay it forward this time,” she said. PIA/Expat Media
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