Japanese, Filipino wife caught with P1M in cash at NAIA

A Japanese and his Filipino wife are facing charges for allegedly trying to sneak out of the country more than P1 million in cash the other day.

Masashita Itagaki and his wife, Melanie Basi, are accused of violating Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 98-1995, which prohibits anyone from bringing in or taking out of the country Philippine currency or notes exceeding P10,000, according to customs collector Tess Roque.

Investigation showed that the couple were about to board Philippine Airlines flight PR 432 bound for Narita at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, when policemen manning the security X-ray at the final boarding area spotted the cash in the woman’s bag.

Melanie explained that they had borrowed the money from a financing firm in her hometown in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

She said they were going to use the money to pay off their debts in Japan, adding that they did not know that it was prohibited to bring more than P10,000 out of the country.

According to Roque, the couple were released after they underwent inquest proceedings.