Honest LRT guard hailed

This time it is a Light Rail Transit (LRT) guard’s turn to remind us that honesty is not a forgotten virtue.

Security Guard Manolito Montejo became the newest member of an elite circle of honest ordinary workers after he returned a bag full of money and documents owned by a Japanese, who left it at the LRT.

In a statement, the LRT commended Montejo after he turned over to his superiors a black leather bag belonging to Akiyo Misuno and turned down the latter’s reward offer of P5,000.

Montejo reportedly found the bag at the United Nations station of LRT and gave it to their security office. The LRT management could not provide further details how exactly the bag was lost and how it was found.

Misuno, a tourist from Nagoya, Japan, however, was reportedly contacted through a phone number in his bag. The LRT administration said it was not able to determine how much money was in the bag as the guards did not bother to count the money and tinker with the bag because it contained important documents.

The Japanese reportedly came to claim the bag a day after it was recovered and tried to give Montejo the cash reward.

LRT said Montejo turned this down saying he was "just doing his job."

"These security personnel should be commended for honesty and for being good models to other employees not only in LRT but in other government agencies as well," LRT administrator Teddy Cruz was quoted in a statement. — Jose Aravilla