NAIA Customs intercepts P10.9 M from passenger

Customs officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) intercepted almost P11 million in cash, which a Filipino passenger bound for Hong Kong attempted to transport out of the country early yesterday morning.

NAIA Bureau of Customs (NAIA-BOC) District Collector Ricardo Belmonte said P10.9 million was confiscated from Joselito Canete Bermoy at around 5:40 a.m. at the west departure area of NAIA Terminal I.

Bermoy’s arrest came after the bundles of P1,000 bills placed in two green plastic bags were found by BOC non-uniformed personnel in a black bag he was carrying with him on Flight CX-904 bound for Hong Kong and scheduled to fly out of the NAIA at 7 a.m.

Upon detention, Bermoy said that he did not know the exact amount of the cash that was in his bag.

Belmonte said Bermoy was apparently a frequent traveler to Hong Kong, based on a check on his passport. His last trip was on March 15. He returned on March 19.

NAIA-BOC personnel said that while passing through the x-ray section, Bermoy appeared to be very nervous and trembling. When initially asked about the contents of the locked bag, Bermoy said it contained only dried fish.

He then said he couldn’t find the key to the bag.

Bermoy, a businessman from Bohol, refused to talk to reporters during a press briefing, saying he was waiting for his lawyer.

Belmonte said Central Bank Circular 98 provides that only a maximum of P10,000 is allowed to be brought out of the country to control the movement of the local currency.

"Bringing out an excessive amount of Philippine pesos could actually destabilize our economy," he explained.

On the other hand, the government limits to $10,000 the amount that travelers could bring out of the country. Anything in excess should be declared before Customs.

Belmonte said passengers carrying more than P10,000 are informed about the circular and are advised to leave the excess amount with family members seeing them off at the airport or have them changed to a foreign currency.

"We don’t confiscate the money outright. In this case, there was intent to bring out the money," he said, adding that Bermoy had intentionally misled the inspectors by claiming that the bag contained only dried fish.

Belmonte said it is up to their legal department to file the appropriate charges against Bermoy.

Belmonte said the cash will be temporarily kept in their vault while waiting for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to arrange for the turnover of the money for their safekeeping and disposition.