ABS-CBNnews.com
January 27, 2012
MANILA, Philippines – Contrary to claims by her husband, Marissa Lapid said the money confiscated from her by United States airport officials is for a “house.”
Senator Lito Lapid said on Thursday that his wife had no malicious intentions with the money found by US airport officials in her luggage in the Las Vegas International Airport.
Lapid said her wife Marissa needed it for the treatment of her heart condition. “Medyo naharang siya doon dahil sobra ang dala niyang pera siguro dahil nagpapagamot siya dahil may sakit siya eh,” the senator had said.
Marissa was arrested after arriving at the Las Vegas International Airport last Jan. 15. The arrest was based on a warrant issued last Jan. 5 for allegedly smuggling $50,000 in cash last Nov. 27.
In a copy of the arrest warrant obtained by ABS-CBN North America News Bureau’s Bev Llorente, the senator’s wife said she only had with her $10,000 and P10,000 in cash.
A Customs and Border Patrol officer said: “Lapid explained that she answered ‘no’ to question number 13 on the CBP form 6059b because of her understanding that the question specifically applied currency over 10 thousand US dollars.”
“I’m sorry, it’s for my house,” Marissa supposedly said. “I screwed up,” she also supposedly said several times.
Upon final inspection, the money contained in her bag was worth $50,137 and P15,700 ($356).
Customs officers gave back only $493.
She is currently out on bail. She will be wearing an ankle monitoring system while waiting for her case before the US District Court in Nevada. The hearing will be held on February 7 there.
I say this couple should be investigated further in the Phils. They were found not guilty of plunder during Merceditas’ time. They should be reinvestigated now they are caught red handed and punished if found guilty. High ranking official pa namna ang asawa. Pareho silang walang pinagaralan.
mga sinugaling ,para daw sa paggamot dahil my heart probloem sana na nga natuluyan yan ng heart attack nung mahulihan ng nga maraming pera, lolz, naku ikulong na yan ng di na matularan pa nag ibang mga pulikong mapangahas sa pinas, nakakahiya!!!!!
Nakakahiya! Akala nya porke asawa niya ay senator, makakaligtas sila sa customs ng amerika. This is the reason why immigration is strict. Some filipinos are taking advantage of their connections to break the law here in the US! Nakakahiya! I think lagi nil itong ginagawa everytime they travel to the US. Mabuti at nahuli na siya.
[...] Senator Lito Lapid’s wife Marissa was arrested in the United States for allegedly smuggling 50 thousand dollars. At first, Mrs. Lapid denied that the money was hers. However, she was forced to admit when airport [...]
[...] Senator Lito Lapid’s wife Marissa was arrested in the United States for allegedly smuggling 50 thousand dollars. At first, Mrs. Lapid denied that the money was hers. However, she was forced to admit when airport [...]
Husband say…it’s for Medical Reason…Wife say..it’s for her 2 House in Las Vegas…Ano ba talaga?
But at least she admitted that She’s Screwed…..Daaaahhhh!…
How come our “ever efficient” airport was not able to catch the hidden cash in their machine? $50,000 to buy a house? ano akala nila sa mga bahay dito sa america, made of bamboo? the Lapid’s know the rules and I’m sure this is not their first time to travel to the US. definitely, she will be convicted and be black-listed to enter the US.
Dapat bawiin ang green card at isama sa list ng undesirable alien.
Happy na naman si Michael G. Kayang kaya n’ya ‘to.
Plea bargain: 40 months and $100K fine. Hmmmm!