Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar Chiong personally thanked Albert L. Bautista in a simple awarding ceremony. On January 4, 2023, cash amounting to P1.4M pesos and personal belongings were found by AVSEC Bautista at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 arrival area.
“Kaming lahat po dito sa MIAA, we appreciate very much your worthy contribution to promote NAIA as a safe and secured gateway to the Philippines. Maraming, maraming salamat po. Proud na proud kami sa iyo,” GM Chiong said, after handing over the certificate of commendation to AVSEC Bautista.
According to Bautista, he found a blue trolley bag in one of the gang chairs between Bay 8 and 9 at the domestic arrival area of Terminal 2. Thinking that the bag might contain valuables, he immediately sought the assistance of the Airport Police officer on duty and the paging section to call the attention of the owner. Despite numerous public announcements, no one came to claim the bag.
As part of security protocol, the area was cordoned-off and the Philippine National Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Canine Group (PNP-EOD/K9 Group) came to conduct inspection and later cleared the baggage of any explosive elements.
During the inventory, the bag was found to contain P1.4M pesos, personal effects and identification cards of Hon. Hanie Bud, Mayor of Maluso, Basilan who the Airport Police tried to contact through his available contact details.
In his Facebook account, the mayor stated “On my way, my wife called me saying that someone from the NAIA Terminal 2 informed her that I left my luggage in the waiting area. I was shocked. Maybe because I had so much in mind, I forgot my luggage which contains important things I needed. So, I immediately rushed back to the airport since no one is allowed to claim it but myself,” said Mayor Bud.
The post gained positive reactions expressing appreciation to Mr. Albert Bautista for his good deed.
Bautista has been an AVSEC for 12 years and had previously surrendered numerous items to the Lost and Found Section of the MIAA, the last one was in 2017. This is the first time however that he recovered a huge amount of cash.
His advice to co-workers and other frontliners in NAIA, “huwag po natin pag interasan ang mga bagay na napupulot natin. Tiyak po na makakapagbigay po tayo ng kasiyahan sa taong may-ari kung maibabalik po natin ito sa kanila” Bautisa humbly stated. (JERRY S. TAN)
