A JAPANESE national and his Filipina wife are facing charges of violating Central Bank regulations after they were caught Thursday by customs officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 2 of trying to sneak out more than P1 million in cash.

Customs deputy collector for passengers services Teresita Roque identified the couple as Masashita Itagi and his wife Melanie Basi Itagi of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. They were brought to the Pasay City Fiscal’s Office for inquest.

The two were charged of violating Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular No. 98-1995, which prohibits any passenger from bringing in or out of the country Philippine currency or notes exceeding P10,000.

Roque said the couple were about to board a Philippine Airlines flight PR432 bound for Narita, Japan when members of the airport security manning the X-ray machine at the final check spotted the cash in the woman’s bag. The X-ray scanner reported the matter to customs officials.

Roque said airplane passengers are allowed only P10,000 or less to bring out of the country; otherwise, they should declare their cash if it is more than P10,000. Failure to declare more than the allowed currency is cause for confiscation in favor of the government.

Mrs. Itagi said they owned the money which they withdrew from a bank in Palawan after their loan was approved by a financing firm in her home town. 

She said they intend to use the money to pay their debts in Japan. She added that they were not aware that bringing out more than P10,000 in cash violates the law.

Roque appealed to all in-coming and out- going passengers, whether Filipino citizens or foreigners, to abide by the BSP regulations to avoid inconvenience.