A 26-YEAR-OLD Filipino man bound for Hong Kong was intercepted at the Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 after authorities found P1.149 million in undeclared Philippine currency in his luggage.
The passenger, identified by authorities as a resident of Basak, Cebu City, claimed he was unaware of the regulation that limits the outbound Philippine currency to P500,000.
The passenger also reportedly refused to sign the receipt for the held baggage.
As reported on the official Facebook page of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup), the incident took place on Monday, July 14, 2025, during a standard security screening when X-ray operators detected unusual images in the passenger’s baggage that appeared to resemble bundles of cash.
Following joint verification by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and PNP-Avsegroup, the undeclared amount of P1,149,000 in cash was seized.
PNP-Avsegroup Director Jason Capoy said the incident showed the authorities’ vigilance in keeping airport operations safe and secure at all times.
“This incident reflects the strong coordination and alertness of our security forces. [Avsegroup] remains committed to ensuring safe and secure airport operations at all times,” said Capoy.
The seized cash was turned over to the BOC office for proper disposition and further investigation. / DPC