Another foreigner on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to Manila International Airport Authority officials and personnel for the recovery of his bag containing cash and important documents.
Japanese tourist Shota Shirakashi said on July 21, he boarded a Point-to-Point (P2P) bus from Baguio City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 3 and was supposed to take an airport loop bus to Terminal 1 for his scheduled departure flight when he noticed his bag was missing.
Shirakashi rushed to the Airport Police Department and told officers Mark Anthony Castillo, Jonel Basa, and Christian Galulu that he left his bag inside the bus he took from Baguio.
The three officers and Shirakashi proceeded to the JOY bus terminal in Pasay City, where they found the bus. With the help of the bus driver, Shirakashi's bag was found where he was seated.
The foreigner thanked the police officers and the bus driver for their efforts. He said his cash amounting to P3,000, assorted identification cards, credit cards and important documents remained intact and complete inside the bag when found.
“I salute the effort exerted by the police officers who helped me recover my bag,” said Shirakashi, who posted his experience in his Facebook account.
MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal thanked his men who helped Shirakashi.
“The effort may be simple, but it means a lot to someone who knows no one in a foreign land. They should serve as inspiration to the rest of our police force in NAIA. Kudos to these men,” he said.
Monreal reiterated his appeal to the public to approach NAIA help desks for any need or assistance.
On Monday, Monreal also commended an airport police officer and a Grab taxi driver who returned a bag containing foreign money worth more than P37,000 and important documents left behind by a Chinese tourist.
Gao Hao Wei, a traveler bound for Puerto Princesa, approached the MIAA airport police help desk and reported that he left his Chanel bag inside a Grab taxi that he boarded going to NAIA Terminal 3 last Sunday.
Airport Police officer Alyn Joy Aliporo immediately contacted the mobile number of the Grab driver later identified as Ricky Chan, who was already in Las Piñas area when he received the call.
Chan said he did not notice that something was left inside his taxi.
The driver arrived at Terminal 3 and surrendered the Chanel bag containing the passenger's passport, a mobile phone, important documents and cash in foreign currency.
The foreigner expressed his gratitude to the airport staff and the driver, saying more than his expensive bag and everything inside it, it was his passport that mattered the most.