Honest Naia employee hailed for returning money

Jeffrey Almoguerra (seated, left) returns an envelope containing US dollar bills to the Manila International Airport Authority’s Miaa’s lost and found section. PHOTO from the Philippine Information Agency

MANILA, Philippines — Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) lauded an employee who works at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) for returning an envelope containing US dollar bills that an unknown passenger left behind at a foreign exchange counter.

“A building attendant proved that the culture of honesty is truly present in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” Miaa wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

A building attendant proved that the culture of honesty is truly present in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. https://t.co/tNbr6Ai3Ub

— Ninoy Aquino International Airport (@MIAAGovPH) January 17, 2019

The employee was identified as Jeffrey Almoguerra, 30, who found an envelope containing US dollar bills in the vicinity of a foreign exchange counter.

Almoguerra then reported the envelope to a security guard who helped him turn over the money to Miaa’s Lost and Found Section.

Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal  lauded Almoguerra’s honesty and recognized him in the roster of award recipients for Miaa’s February flag raising ceremony.

“We do this on purpose because we want everyone in the MIAA organization to emulate simple yet noble deeds such as what Mr. Almoguerra exhibited. I urge all our service contractors also to recognize their employees for their simple achievements and take care of them because they set good examples. We want goodness and honesty to become viral in NAIA,” Monreal said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said the “amount has yet to be publicly disclosed as it will form part of the confirmatory information that MIAA will be asking from possible claimants.”

As of posting, authorities are still waiting for a claimant who can prove that he or she is the rightful owner as the envelope had no markings.

Parañaque-based Almoguerra has been employed by Philcare Manpower Services for a year. He is providing for two children out of his modest earnings as a janitor. /ee