Scary News-Balikbayans Watch Out and Beware

Today's news written by DJ Yap in the Philippine Daily Inquirer is indeed shocking and scary. Reading this article is scary it could happen easily to all balikbayans or tourist from the US. The article is titled "Couple lose SUV, cash to armed carjackers who followed them from airport".

Now I have second thoughts of vacationing to the Philippines. If this incident continues, it will ruined the tourism industry in the Philippines. I have a question, Is it legal to carry and bring to the Philippines 2.5 Million pesos in cash? Any one know the answer? I believe one is allowed to carry cash not to exceed $10,000, but you are suppose to declare it to immigration. Am I right?


"AN AMERICAN and his Filipino wife lost their sports utility vehicle (SUV) and P2.5 million in cash and valuables to armed carjackers who attacked them along Edsa in Mandaluyong City early Friday morning.

The incident occurred at 1:10 a.m. at the intersection of Edsa and Shaw Boulevard, investigators at the Mandaluyong Police Station said.

Frederick Allan Boutcher, 63, and his wife Priny Mosquito-Boutcher, 52, had earlier landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and were traveling on board a gold Isuzu Crosswind, with plate number XJY-499, when a red Toyota Innova bumped the rear of their vehicle repeatedly.

Rogelio Maullan, Boutcher’s stepson, who was driving the SUV ignored the bumps, until the Innova overtook their vehicle and cut them in front, prompting him to stop.

Five men armed with short firearms got off the Innova and forced Maullan out of the car. The men then commandeered the vehicle with the Boutchers still aboard, said Eastern Police District Director Francisco Manalo.

The suspects dropped off the couple in Galas, Quezon City, where they reported the incident to police at the nearest precinct.

Taken from the Boutchers were $2,500 in cash (about P115,000), three cellular phones, several pieces of jewelry, including the couple’s matching 22-karat wedding rings, five suitcases containing their bank passbooks, a land title, and other valuable bank documents.

Manalo said the heist was virtually the same as the modus operandi used on the family of Jorge Bernas, brother-in-law of Luli Arroyo, daughter of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in Pasig City last month. The Bernas family had just arrived at the airport when they were attacked along C-5 Road.

The official said he instructed the Mandaluyong police to work on the composite sketches of the suspects quickly. The suspects were in plain clothes and their faces were not covered, he said.

Manalo also said he went to the Southern Police District to coordinate efforts in tracking down the carjackers. He said they believe the suspects pick their victims by observing arriving passengers at the terminal".