Lito Lapid speaks up on wife's arrest for alleged dollar smuggling

Sen. Lito Lapid backed his wife Marissa on allegations that she failed to declare the huge sum of money she brought to Las Vegas, USA last November.

The solon explained to “24 Oras” on Jan. 26 that his better half needed the money to have her heart illness treated in Las Vegas. Marissa had earlier undergone a neck surgery, added the actor.

“...Alam niya ‘yon, ‘yung sobrang pera… Kaya nung nakausap ko sabi ko, ‘Hindi mo ba alam bawal ‘yan?’ Sabi niya nagbaka-sakali [siya], nag-sorry na lang,” Lapid said in a separate report on “TV Patrol,” Thursday.

Through a federal warrant, US immigration and customs enforcement agents arrested Lapid’s wife on Jan. 15 after landing at the Las Vegas International Airport. Mrs. Lapid purportedly declared to a customs official that she was only carrying $10,000. However, an additional $40,000 was discovered upon further inspection of her baggage.

Lapid maintained that his wife would face all the accusations against her.

“Handa naman ang asawa ko na sagutin ang anumang issue tungkol sa insidente at may abogado na siya na nag-aasikaso doon. Naghihintay pa rin kami ng detalye mula sa mga abogado niya at mas nararapat na rin na maghintay muna ng impormasyon mula sa kanila,” said the senator in his press statement flashed on “24 Oras.”

In his interview with “TV Patrol,” however, he admitted that he’s still worried for his wife’s welfare.

“Siyempre sino ba naman ang hindi mag-aalala? Eh siyempre lalong-lalo na na pulitiko ako... Pulitiko rin si Mark [Lapid, former Pampanga governor and actor], mga anak ko…” he related.

He also told “24 Oras” that, “Medyo nalulungkot kami, hindi naman namin inaasahan ‘yung gano’n kasi nga magpapagamot siya eh.”

Marissa has posted bail and is currently staying at their relatives’ house in Las Vegas, Lapid said on “TV Patrol.”

As stated in the “Guide for the International Visitors” by the US Customs and Border Protection, an amount exceeding $10,000 must be declared to the CBP.

If proven guilty, Mrs. Lapid might serve up to five years in prison, according to the "TV Patrol" report.

Lapid’s chief of staff has already sought assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“What we’re doing is to find out exactly what are the particulars of the case para malaman natin kung pa’no matutulungan ‘yung maybahay ni Sen. Lapid,” said DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez on “TV Patrol.”

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

mb.com.ph

Tweet

Read more...