BY Osias Osorio

SOME P500,000 in cash was recovered by a screening officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from a passenger bound for Japan last September 16.

Office for Transportation Security (OTS) screening officer

Ronnel Bustamante discovered bundles of P1,000 bills while conducting an X-ray screening of a passenger set to board an AirAsia flight to Osaka.

NAIA-Customs Assistant Deputy Collector for Passengers Services Mark Almase said that departing and arriving passengers are only allowed to bring in and out of the country P50,000 unless they have a permit or clearance from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Passengers can bring out and bring in $10,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies but need to declare it.

The P500,000 was seized in favor of the government. The unidentified passenger can file an appeal with the customs law division at NAIA, Almase said.

OTS Undersecretary Crizaldo O. Nieves commended the SSOs for their diligence in thwarting attempts to exploit the transportation system for illegal activities.