A few good men: Airport honors 35 honest workers

MANILA, Philippines–In an attempt to polish its tarnished image following a security breach by an airport worker allegedly involved in human smuggling, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has commended 35 honest workers whose acts of goodness helped passengers.

During the agency’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday, Jose Angel Honrado, MIAA general manager, said the agency had suffered a “black eye” after authorities uncovered an alleged racket involving airport workers who helped undocumented overseas Filipino workers slip inside the airport without passing through immigration control.

“This saddens me as it is a big blow to the MIAA and to the country,” Honrado said during the ceremony attended by some 500 employees.

The MIAA employee, Analy Soriano, was positively identified to have helped, using an official pass, four individuals evade immigration departure procedures at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1 on Oct. 27.

Human trafficking

Soriano now faces a criminal complaint of human trafficking and an administrative case. She has been suspended pending an investigation. Five other workers are also being investigated for possible involvement in the racket.

Honrado warned employees to avoid illegal activities and asked them to emulate the 35 model employees who did good things for the passengers.

“Let’s follow their examples. You should be doing good things and returning valuables that are not yours instead of asking for bribes or favors,” Honrado said before awarding certificates of commendation.

One of the awardees, Police Officer Pablito Morales, helped return a lost bag containing P400,000 worth of jewelry to its owner.

Morales, assigned at Naia Terminal 2, said a woman identified as Liwayway Navarro sought his help in finding her bag at the predeparture area around 2 p.m. on Sept. 7.

“I scoured the entire terminal for the luggage. Luckily, we found it at the passengers’ exit area. The security guard apparently had secured it at the exit and planned to turn it over to the police,” Morales said.

Every month, MIAA recognizes its honest employees during its Monday flag-raising ceremony.–Niña P. Calleja