Airport execs reward honest taxi driver

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) honored yesterday a part-time taxi driver, who returned P150,000 to a passenger who left the cash inside his cab at the Manila Domestic Airport last Sunday.

Lawyer Oscar Paras Jr., MIAA senior assistant general manager, handed Reio Lance Igona, 28, a native of Iloilo and resident of Centennial Village, Taguig, a P10,000 cash reward and praised him for his "exemplary display of honesty."

"The airport management takes pride in Mr. Igona’s honesty. In the midst of these difficult times when money is so scarce, it is so heartwarming to learn that there are still people like him whose values remain unchallenged even in the face of irresistible temptation. Such noble deed is truly worthy of emulation," Paras said in a ceremony held yesterday at the MIAA building in Pasay City.

"Like Igona, I encourage all airport workers to continue demonstrating distinct Filipino values in the course of performing their respective duties at the NAIA. Let us keep the spirit alive," he added.

MIAA also gave a plaque of appreciation to Igona, whose main source of livelihood is selling balut.

Last Aug. 7, Felixberto Aggana and a companion hailed Igona’s taxi and asked to be taken to the domestic airport for a Cebu Pacific flight to Cotabato City.

During the trip, Igona struck a conversation with his passengers.

Aggana told him that he needed to bring money to Cotabato for the treatment of his daughter Gwyneth, who has a brain tumor.

Minutes after Aggana and his companion got off his cab, Igona noticed that a black bag was left behind in the backseat.

He immediately went back to the airport and tried to look for Aggana.

Failing to find him, he left the bag with airport authorities.

Aggana was later found and expressed relief over the return of the money.

He was extremely grateful to the honest taxi driver.

"I thought we had lost the money. Thank you, Mr. Igona. We salute you," Aggana was quoted as telling Igona when they met.

The other day, Igona received financial assistance from Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga during a ceremony at City Hall. The city government gave him a computer course scholarship. His two children also received school scholarships.