Airport guard surrenders pouch with US dollar bills

FILE: HONEST GUARD. NAIA security guard, Sanzebal Mastul on Thursday (Oct. 31, 2019) surrendered a pouch containing dollar bills to airport authorities. Mastul has been working at the airport for 12 years. (Photo courtesy of Manila International Airport Authority via PNA)

MANILA — A security guard at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Thursday surrendered to authorities a pouch with US dollar bills he found at the arrival conveyor area of the airport.

Sanzebal Mastul found the pouch at one of the carousels at NAIA Terminal 1.

“A remarkable amount of cash” is inside the pouch, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

The MIAA, refused to disclose the amount, as this would be among the details that would be asked from possible claimants.

There was no ID card in the bag, it added.

On Friday, the MIAA said Mastul headed to the paging section when he found the pouch.

No one came after several announcements.

Mastul later surrendered the pouch to the airport’s Lost and Found section.

As of posting, no one has claimed the pouch, according to MIAA. The claimant must be able to prove that he or she is the real owner of the pouch.

In a statement, MIAA general manager Ed Monreal commended Mastul, who has been a guard at the NAIA for 12 years now.

Mastul’s act, he said, just proves the culture of honesty at the NAIA.