A passenger on 15 January 2024 accidentally left a bag at the final security screening checkpoint of Butuan airport. The bag was recovered by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Security Screening Officer (SSO) Griffel Vien Salaum.

The left-behind bag had two white envelopes with cash totaling US$4,000, or around P223,000), along with a variety of jewelry.

While carrying out standard security screening procedures, SSO Salaum came upon a green bag that a traveler had placed on the X-ray machine. To find out who the owner was, he quickly worked with the Public Assistance and Complaints Desk of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

A traveler approached the security checkpoint, saying she had forgotten her bag. SSO Salaum requested to verify her identification before handing over the bag. The passenger was then traveling via Philippine Airlines flight PR2336 bound for Cebu.

The owner of the bag expressed her gratitude for the prompt assistance provided by SSO Salaum and his crew, as well as for having her belongings returned. 

OTS Officer-in-Charge Assistant Secretary Jose Briones Jr. asserts that the timely and responsible return of abandoned items to their rightful owners upholds the integrity of the group and the organization.

“Ipinapakita lang po dito ng aming mga personnel ‘yung aming itinuturo sa kanila during training, at yung values formation na dapat i-maintain, ito ‘yung katapatan nila at sincerity to serve and assist passengers,” Briones Jr. said.