The Manila International Airport Authorities (MIAA) commended its personnel who turned over the $10,000 he found inside a bag at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.
MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal identified the honest airport personnel as Jhun Telewik, a building attendant for the NAIA Terminal 2.
"Despite the hardship brought by the pandemic, there are still people who remain honest. I salute Mr. Telewik for his great honesty. I am sure there are still more equally dedicated workers in our midst here in NAIA,” said Monreal.
The $10,000 dollars, with peso equivalent to more than P500,000, were inside a bag that was traced to be owned by a Filipino-American who just came from the United States and bound to Dipolog City.
Telewik, of Front Runners Property Maintenance and General Services Corporation which is a service contractor for the MIAA, said he was collecting garbage at the departure area of the NAIA Terminal 2 at around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 27, when he saw a bag in one of the chairs.
He initially ignored the bag, believing that the bag is owned by one of the passengers roaming in the area.
But during his second round of garbage collection, he noticed that the bag was still there. He then took the bag and later coordinated with airport personnel.
When asked how he felt when he discovered the contents of the bag, Telewik said: "I did not think of the amount, what I had in my mind was that the owner would use it for important purposes."
The bag and the money was later turned over to the son of the owner after verification process.
As expression of gratitude, Telewik was given $100.