MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – A security guard of SM City Baliuag who dreams of becoming a police officer found and returned a clutch bag containing P2.4 million worth of checks and P35,000 in cash last Friday.

Trinidad Quintana, 27, who has worked for the RDC Security Agency for only four months, told The STAR in a phone interview that he was on a routine check at the mall’s food court when he saw the clutch bag on a table.

He said he initially kept watch on the clutch bag, thinking that its owner might have gone to the comfort room. With nobody taking it after a few minutes, he then asked a couple on another table if it was theirs.

Since its owner apparently had already left, Quintana took the clutch bag and brought it to his office.

Beverly Cruz, public relations officer of SM City Baliuag, said the clutch bag contained at least seven checks worth P2.4 million, P35,000 in cash and other valuables.

The bag was later returned to its owner, a certain Matias Cruz.

When asked why he returned the bag, Quintana said it was not his and it’s part of his job to do so.

Quintana added that his parents had taught him to be honest, explaining that he felt good after the owner got the bag.

The SM City Baliuag management commended Quintana for his honesty.

The third of nine siblings from Leyte, Quintana aspires to become a police officer. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Criminology at the Tacloban-Leyte Colleges in 2007, but failed to pass the examination given by the National Police Commission when was in his junior year.

Last year, he again took the exam and is now waiting for the results.