NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
P441M In Cash Intercepted At Cebu Airport: Authorities Probe Possible Election Plot Involving Foreigners
Photo credit: PNP Aviation Security Group
Well, this one’s straight out of a political thriller—except it’s all real, and it happened right here in the Philippines.
Authorities just made a major interception at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) that’s got the country talking. Between the late hours of May 9 and early morning of May 10, law enforcement agents discovered a jaw-dropping P441 million in cold, hard cash stuffed into seven trolley bags at the airport’s General Aviation Terminal.
That’s not pocket change. And this wasn’t your usual flight either. The money was about to be flown to Manila on a private aircraft (flight RP-C9968). But just before takeoff, officers stepped in.
Here’s where it gets even more eyebrow-raising: 11 individuals were caught in the act—six Chinese, one Malaysian, one Indonesian, one Kazakhstani, and two Filipinos. They arrived in a white Toyota Super Grandia and allegedly tried to dodge the usual security protocols. Spoiler alert: they failed.
What’s the big deal, aside from the eye-popping amount? Well, for starters, they couldn’t present proper documents explaining why they were moving that much cash. And during the election season, that’s a huge red flag. COMELEC Resolution No. 11104 strictly bans the unauthorized transport of large sums of money, especially because it could be used for vote-buying or other shady election-related activities.
To make things more serious, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are now involved. Investigators are looking into possible violations of both money laundering and immigration laws. The fact that several foreign nationals were involved? That’s raising serious fears of foreign interference in the upcoming elections.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has weighed in too, praising the swift actions of law enforcement and stressing how critical it is to protect the country’s democratic processes. They’ve pledged their full support in getting to the bottom of this.
So, what now? Authorities are digging deeper. And the public? We’re being asked to stay alert and report anything suspicious as the nation prepares for a crucial electoral exercise.
With stakes this high, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about bags of money—it’s about protecting the very core of Philippine democracy.
Authorities just made a major interception at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) that’s got the country talking. Between the late hours of May 9 and early morning of May 10, law enforcement agents discovered a jaw-dropping P441 million in cold, hard cash stuffed into seven trolley bags at the airport’s General Aviation Terminal.
That’s not pocket change. And this wasn’t your usual flight either. The money was about to be flown to Manila on a private aircraft (flight RP-C9968). But just before takeoff, officers stepped in.
Here’s where it gets even more eyebrow-raising: 11 individuals were caught in the act—six Chinese, one Malaysian, one Indonesian, one Kazakhstani, and two Filipinos. They arrived in a white Toyota Super Grandia and allegedly tried to dodge the usual security protocols. Spoiler alert: they failed.
What’s the big deal, aside from the eye-popping amount? Well, for starters, they couldn’t present proper documents explaining why they were moving that much cash. And during the election season, that’s a huge red flag. COMELEC Resolution No. 11104 strictly bans the unauthorized transport of large sums of money, especially because it could be used for vote-buying or other shady election-related activities.
To make things more serious, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are now involved. Investigators are looking into possible violations of both money laundering and immigration laws. The fact that several foreign nationals were involved? That’s raising serious fears of foreign interference in the upcoming elections.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has weighed in too, praising the swift actions of law enforcement and stressing how critical it is to protect the country’s democratic processes. They’ve pledged their full support in getting to the bottom of this.
So, what now? Authorities are digging deeper. And the public? We’re being asked to stay alert and report anything suspicious as the nation prepares for a crucial electoral exercise.
With stakes this high, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about bags of money—it’s about protecting the very core of Philippine democracy.
May 11, 2025
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
