Three Cebu-bound passengers held in CdO for carrying R32 M

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is holding three passengers after they were caught carrying some 132 million while about to board a Cebubound vessel at the Macabalan port here Sunday night.

The three were sup-

posed to board M/V Transasia vessel from this city to Cebu, but were held by PCG personnel when their baggage yielded some 132 million in cash. The money was discovered inside four styrofoam containers.

The PCG, however, refused to give further details while banning media from entering its premises.

A reliable source said the three Cebu-bound passengers are still being held by the PCG for further investigation. They reportedly claimed they are bank personnel – a teller and two detailed unarmed security. But authorities said it is not proper for a bank to allow its personnel to transport a huge amount of money during a holiday and escorted by only unarmed security personnel.

Other sources said authorities are still validating if the three passengers are really bank personnel because they declared their baggage as documents, not cash.

Following the incident, armed PCG personnel are strictly manning checkpoints within the vicinity of the Macabalan port, the Bureau of Customs, the PCG and Philippine Ports Authority offices.