During security screening departing the Philippines on an international flight an X-ray of my backpack showed a simple, cheap two-pronged, 2-3 meter household extension cord that I use with my laptop in coffee shops (and airport waiting areas!) where the plug isn't close to where I want to sit.
The person in charge of the X-ray machine flagged it, and when I presented it another security person (possibly looking a bit apologetic) said something along the lines that if necessary they can go find the regulation about bringing work tools out of the country and show it to me.
I got the feeling that the guard was telegraphing "This is cheap, you can easily afford another, please just say okay" but I could be imagining it.
I'm still just curious; is it really forbidden to take extension cords out of the Philippines, at least by some extension of existing regulations related to tools for work (e.g. drills, power saws, etc.)?