Honest airport worker returns bag containing $10,000

Jhun Telewik (second from left) is commended for returning an unattended bag containing cash and other valuables.—PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAA

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the hardships brought by the pandemic, a building attendant at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) proved that honesty and compassion for kababayans are still alive and well.

When 29-year-old Jhun Telewik found an unattended bag containing $10,000 (around P500,000) and other personal belongings, he did not think twice of returning it to its rightful owner.

In a statement, the Manila International Airport Authority said Telewik, who was collecting garbage, saw a bag in one of the chairs at the departure area of Naia Terminal 2 around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 27.

While doing his rounds the second time, he noticed that the bag was still there.

Telewik immediately asked for assistance from the ground personnel of Philippine Airlines and sought the owner through the paging system. But no one came forward to claim the bag.

He then turned over the bag to the lost and found office, which conducted an inventory of the bag’s contents which include cash and personal belongings.

“I did not even think of the value of the things inside the bag. What I was worried about was the owner, because he left many important things,” Telewik told airport authorities.