NAIA worker returns student’s pouch containing cash

Police turning over to Zhao his recovered pouch.

A Manila  airport worker returned to a  passenger a black pouch he found containing US$3,600 and other foreign currencies at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport  Terminal 1 on Jan. 10.

PO1 Mark Anthony Lusergo,  who was assigned at NAIA Terminal 1,  said a certain Mr. Cubacob, a pushcart retriever of D’Frada,  found the black pouch and immediately turned it  over to the security guard on duty who brought the pouch to the  the Airport Police department.

Lusergo said they subjected the pouch  to an  inspection and found  36 pieces of US$100 bills, 640 Chinese Yuan and 3,400 Philippine peso.

Lusergo added that the pouch contained an identification card of the owner identified as Runze Shandong Zhao, a 23-year-old nursing student at the Far Eastern University in Manila.

Lusergo said they were able to contact Zhao through the name and number of a certain Linda Orosco they have found in a piece of paper inside the pouch.

Police  were able to talk to Ms. Orosco who immediately contacted Zhao to inform him about his pouch.

Zhao appeared before the Airport Police office on  the evening of Jan. 11  to claim his pouch and thanked Cubacob for his honesty and returning his money which was intended for his tuition.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said: “there are still honest employees in the airport and we hope other employees will emulate the good deeds of Mr. Cubacob.”

Zhao told police that he rushed from  the airport when he arrived last Wednesday and forgot  his black pouch on top of the pushcart at the main arrival area of the NAIA Terminal 1.

“I was so grateful and lucky that an honest man like Mr. Cubacob was the one who found my pouch, otherwise I may not be able to pay my school this month,” Zhao said.