The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed the arrest of two Filipinos in Hong Kong for attempting to withdraw US$10 billion using forged documents.

According to the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, the suspects—a 68-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman—presented three counterfeit bank documents at an HSBC branch on Queen’s Road in an attempt to access the massive sum. The bank staff, suspecting the documents were fake, quickly alerted local authorities.

Hong Kong police responded to the tip and arrested the two suspects on the spot. While their identities have been disclosed to the Consulate, the DFA has withheld their names from the public. The male suspect, who reportedly suffers from dementia, remains in custody, while the female suspect, a lawyer by profession, has since posted bail.

This incident underscores the vigilance of financial institutions in detecting suspicious transactions and the ongoing risks posed by fraudulent financial schemes. The DFA is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Hong Kong authorities to ensure due process for the Filipino nationals involved.