The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has destroyed 116 motorcycles and six vehicles that were illegally brought into the Philippines, together worth a total of P34.71 million.
Witnessed by President Rodrigo Duterte and other government officials, BOC on May 30 destroyed at the Port Area in Manila 112 brand-new Vespa scooters, a used BMW motorcycle, one Harley Davidson, two Triumph motorcycles, a Mitsubishi Pajero, two units of Land Rover, and a Volvo car.
Also destroyed on the same day at the Port of Cebu were two vehicles—a used 2002 Ford Ecoline E350 and a 2005 Ford Ecoline E350.
The cars and motorcycles arrived on separate dates at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Subic, Port of Cebu, and Port of Iloilo.
The vehicles were smashed in line with the directive of Duterte, who has warned all smugglers to pay the tax for their vehicle importations or have the vehicles crushed by a bulldozer. Duterte earlier said he preferred destruction to stop the scheme of smugglers who connive with some Customs employees in getting back the seized cars through public auction.
“The President’s order is clear, sending a very strong message to smugglers, to stop what they have been doing. These smugglers have long been cheating the government. This has to stop,” Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña said in a statement.
“The connivance of smugglers with some customs employees in bringing smuggled vehicles back to the smugglers, disguised in legitimate auction proceedings, has to stop as well, to level the playing field for the legitimate businessmen,” he added.
Last February, BOC destroyed 20 high-end vehicles worth P61 million, also pursuant to Duterte’s directive.
The demolished vehicles included brands such as a classic 1969 Corvette Stingray, Jaguar, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Pajero, BMW, Ford Explorer, and Lexus.
BOC, meanwhile, also seized 24 luxury vehicles including several “supercars” at the MICP which are now under litigation at the Law Division.
“I have directed those in charge of the case to facilitate the litigation of the 24 luxury cars. If the final decision of the case is in favor to the government, the same will happen to them. They will be destroyed,” Lapeña said.
Eighteen of the 24 cars, specifically 13 brand-new units of Land Cruiser, two units of Chevrolet Camaro, two brand-new units of Range Rover, and a McLaren, have been forfeited, but the importer has filed an appeal with the Court of Tax Appeals. The other cars remain under legal proceedings.
