Lapid Says Wife's US$50K For Heart Treatment

MANILA, Philippines – 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 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 said.

The senator’s wife may be charged with a criminal complaint for alleged smuggling of US$50,000 in cash and may face up to 5 years in prison, fined up to $250,000, and made to forfeit the cash recovered from her if she is convicted of the offense.

Lapid expressed concern over his wife’s arrest, saying he has already hired an American lawyer to represent his wife.

“Syempre sino ba naman ang hindi mag-aalala, lalo na at pulitiko ako at si Mark,” he said.

The senator is also seeking assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“What we are doing is to find out exactly what are the particulars of the case para malaman natin kung paano natin matutulungan ang maybahay ni Senator Lapid,” said DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez.

Marissa is currently out on bail and is staying with relatives. She will remain in Las Vegas pending the resolution of the case.

Marissa was arrested by agents of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement shortly after her landing in Las Vegas last January 15.

She was first stopped by US officials on November 27 last year as she arrived from the Philippines.

She had declared with US customs that she had only brought $10,000 with her, but an inspection of her luggage revealed she was concealing an additional $40,000.

Under US laws, anyone carrying more than $10,000 cash should declare this through Customs Form 4790 and submit it to authorities at the point of entry or departure. -- Reports from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News; The Philippine Star