Honest airport porter cited

MANILA, Philippines — A porter was commended by the Manila International Airport Authority for returning $7,000 left by a passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Friday.

MIAA general manager Eric Ines said Irwin Rommel Diana of D’Frada Porterage Services turned over to the airport terminal’s lost and found section a black pouch left by a passenger who had just arrived.

Diana had found the pouch on the floor while retrieving used pushcarts between Bays 5 and 6 of the arrival area curbside, Ines said.

The owner, a traveler holding an American passport, regained custody of his pouch less than an hour after verification and documentation.

Diana, 35, has been working at NAIA for 14 years as a porter.

When asked what reminder he can give to his peers and other airport workers in general, Diana said, “If you did not work for it or if it is not yours, return it to its proper owner.”

Last April 13, another porter from the same porterage firm, Victor Perez, returned $10,000 under similar circumstances, the MIAA said.

The MIAA will formally commend the two porters during a flag-raising ceremony next month.