MANILA, 18 January 2004 — Unbelievable as it may seem, the Aviation Security Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-ASG) has been cited for their honesty which has resulted in the recovery of P15.8 million worth of cash, personal equipment, valuables and jewelry lost by departing passengers in the country’s airports last year.
The citation was issued by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) which supervises the country’s airports.
Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the men and women of the PNP-ASG should be commended for their honesty and integrity in their efforts to return valuables lost be departing passengers.
“Who says there are no more honest men in uniform. We have them at the Aviation Security Command,” said Mendoza, who is also a former director general of the Philippine National Police, ASG’s mother unit.
Mendoza said the PNP-ASG deserves to be called “Home of Honest Cops and Public Servants.” He added that ASG’s honest efforts have helped restore the citizens’ trust and confidence in the police force.
Senior Supt. Andres G. Caro II, the PNP-ASG director who figured prominently in last November’s failed Air Transport Office (ATO) siege, said the acts of honesty and integrity shown by ASG members over the years have quickly earned them the admiration of the general public and foreign travelers who recovered lost or left-behind cash and valuables at the airports.
Among the significant accomplishments cited by ASG were:
• Recovery and return of lost bag containing $52,000, P50,000 and two Nokia cellphones to owner Gerry Stephen Sauber at the West Check-in Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Aug. 7, 2003;
• Return of a bag at Initial Check-in of the Centennial Airport containing $30,000, a Nokia cellphone and assorted credit cards to owner Robert Scomen on Oct. 21, 2003;
• Return of a bag at Initial Check-in Departure Area at the Centennial Airport containing P500,000 in cash, P200,000 worth of assorted jewelry, Sony video camera worth P65,000 and Nokia cellphone worth P23,000 owned by Mrs. Evelyn Absalon on Aug. 27, 2003;
• Return of $11,300 with P3,500 contained in a bag owned by Mrs. Jessica Ramos at the Initial Check-in Departure Area of the Manila Domestic Airport on June 30, 2003;
• Another bag containing P300,000 worth of jewelry, P5,500 in cash and assorted credit cards was returned to owner Heidi Otsuka on Nov. 16, 2003.
• Return of a lady’s bag containing $5,000 with two sunglasses owned by Mrs. Lerma Tiangson on July 31, 2003;
• Return of another bag at Initial Check-in Departure Area at the Centennial Airport containing P275,000 and assorted clothes to owner Charles Cadelia on Nov. 22, 2003;
• Return of a bag at Final Check-in of the Manila Domestic Airport containing P200,000 in cash and other personal effects to owner Kim Young on Sept. 22, 2003; and
• 46 similar instances involving huge amounts of cash and valuables that were returned to their owners.
