Passenger leaves suitcase with P1.9 million at NAIA

Bundles of United States dollars and Philippine pesos in various denominations and gold jewelry are laid out for inventory after the items were found in a suitcase left behind by a Philippine Airlines passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 last July 21.

MANILA, Philippines — A roving security guard at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA-1) turned over a suitcase containing P1.9 million in cash and jewelry left behind by a passenger last July 21, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) reported yesterday.

Mahmud Mastul and other airport personnel brought the suitcase to the airport’s lost and found section and checked the luggage’s contents for proper documentation.

Police found United States dollars, Philippine pesos and some gold jewelry totaling P1.9 million in value, the MIAA said.

The MIAA, which did not release an itemized list of the suitcase’s contents, said travelers may bring in or out of the country $10,000 worth of currency.

Police contacted the suitcase’s owner, who had flown in from abroad on a Philippine Airlines flight. The owner claimed the suitcase after being contacted.

Mastul, 34, said he has been working at NAIA since 2016 and it was the first time that his honesty was put to the test.

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