Dear Atty. Chris,

While waiting for our food at a fast-food restaurant, I saw a wallet on the edge of the seat. When I opened the wallet, I saw P1,500 in cash but no IDs. What should I do? I am tempted to use the money since it’s been with me for a long time.

Tom

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Dear Tom,

To answer your question, we shall refer to Articles 719 and 720 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, which read as follows:

“Article 719. Whoever finds a movable, which is not treasure, must return it to its previous possessor. If the latter is unknown, the finder shall immediately deposit it with the mayor of the city or municipality where the finding has taken place.

“The finding shall be publicly announced by the mayor for two consecutive weeks in the way he deems best.

“Six months from the publication having elapsed without the owner having appeared, the thing found, or its value, shall be awarded to the finder. The finder and the owner shall be obliged, as the case may be, to reimburse the expenses.

“Article 720. If the owner should appear in time, he shall be obliged to pay, as a reward to the finder, one-tenth of the sum or of the price of the thing found.” (Emphases supplied)

When the aforementioned provisions are taken into consideration, it becomes abundantly clear that any personal property that has been found lost must be returned to its rightful owner if that owner is known. As a result, the person who lost their wallet is obligated to pay you a finder’s reward, which is one-tenth of the value of the item you found.

But if you don’t know who owns the wallet you found, you have to give it to the mayor of the city or municipality where it was found. The mayor will then make the news to the public for two weeks straight that a lost wallet has been found. You will receive the wallet as a reward after six months have passed and no one has claimed it.

Hope this helps.

Atty. Chris Liquigan