MANY Filipinos still believe in the old-fashioned notion of honesty being the best policy even at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade visited the Naia Terminal 1 and personally commended two airport employees and a regular taxi driver who returned big amounts of money they found while working.
The three workers were Antonio Infanta, driver of Bram regular white taxi; Rizalde Ocde of Integrated Workers Service Coop and security guard Alfredo Baldoza.
Tugade gave them P10,000 each as a reward for their honesty and good deeds.
Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal said Ocde turned over a sling bag containing $11,000 and P11,000 which he found at the money changer inside Naia Terminal 3 last Jan. 21 while Infanta turned over another sling bag containing gadgets and cash amounting to P220,000 which was found inside his taxi last Jan. 19.
Baldoza, on the other hand, turned over some US$5,000 cash he found at the unloading area of Naia Terminal 3.
After the short meeting with the employees, Tugade, Monreal and officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines proceeded to the terminal and inspected the facility in preparation for the upcoming Asean summit this April in Manila.
Last Monday, Monreal also commended 13 airport personnel for their outstanding performance and responsibilities in the line of duty.
Airport Police Officers headed by Roderick Mejia, Jesus Ducusin, Gilfredo Dilan, Victor Mallari, Alvin Patayan, Archieval Amoguis, and Eduardo Duran and Robert Umitin II were recognized for their successful operation against notorious Salisi Gang leader Brian Duque last Nov. 29 and the recovery of 22 pieces of stolen diamonds from Malaysia at LBC Express Warehouse last Dec. 22.
Amoguis and Duran were also responsible for the arrest of another Salisi Gang suspected member Rowena Pelaez, who victimized passengers and other airport users at Naia Terminal 2 last Dec. 23.