Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Tuesday, Oct. 17 commended an immigration officer who found and returned a bag containing P80,000 in cash and other valuables at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Tansingco urged BI officials and personnel to emulate Border Control and Intelligence Unit (BCIU) Officer Lino Hijada for the good deed.
“As government employees, we are expected to perform our duties with integrity and professionalism,” said Tansingco.
“We hope this serves as a good example to our personnel, and remind them that the Bureau is still made up with many good men and women who remain honest in their work,” he said.
In a statement, the BI said that last Aug. 19, Hijada “discovered an unattended bag near the e-gates at the arrival area.”
It said "the bag contained Japanese Yen which was later found to amount to P80,000 as well as jewelry and various gadgets.”
"Hijada immediately reported the matter to the duty supervisor who coordinated with Air Asia ground staff,” it also said.
“Together with the airline staff, they located the owner and was able to return her bag with the contents intact," it added.
Later, BI said it found that the owner arrived from Japan and misplaced her bag after immigration proceedings.