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The Bureau of Customs had taken custody of 30 luxury vehicles owned by the controversial Discaya couple, up from the initial 28
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Of the total, eight have been found to be smuggled, seven without Certificates of Payment and showed deficiencies in duties and taxes, while the rest are still under verification
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Based on the assessment of the initial 15 vehicles verified, the estimated total duties and taxes that should have been collected was P104.716 million
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Records showed that duties and taxes assessed and collected for these vehicles amounted only to P33.056 million, leaving a deficit of P71.660 million.
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Some BOC officials and personnel have also been tagged as persons of interest and are now under further scrutiny
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) had taken custody of 30 luxury vehicles owned by the controversial Discaya couple, of which eight have been found to be smuggled, seven without Certificates of Payment and showed deficiencies in duties and taxes, while the rest are still under verification.
“The BOC will not allow any attempt to evade the payment of lawful duties and taxes. The deliberate evasion of customs laws, particularly involving high-value goods, undermines government revenue and erodes public trust,” BOC commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said in a press conference on September 10.
The total number of vehicles under probe went up from the initial 12 that were secured through a court-ordered search at the Discaya’s St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corp. compound in Pasig City, and another 16 surrendered by the Discaya couple.
READ: BOC takes custody of 28 Discaya luxury vehicles
Based on the evaluation of the Import Assessment Service on the initial 15 vehicles verified, the estimated total duties and taxes that should have been collected was P104.716 million.
Records showed that duties and taxes assessed and collected for these vehicles amounted only to P33.056 million, leaving a deficit of P71.660 million.
The investigation revealed that eight motor vehicles were imported without any corresponding entry, classifying them as smuggled and subject to the issuance of Warrants of Seizure and Detention.
Another seven, although covered by import entries, were found to lack Certificates of Payment and showed deficiencies in duties and taxes. These are now subject to a transaction audit by the Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG).
Meanwhile, 14 vehicles with filed import entries and supported by Certificates of Payment will also undergo verification under PCAG’s transaction audit. One additional vehicle is also under verification.
The BOC also identified the ports of entry in Batangas, Cebu, Manila, and the Manila International Container Port.
Some BOC officials and personnel have also been tagged as persons of interest and are now under further scrutiny as part of the investigation.
“We will ensure that the law is applied fairly and consistently, regardless of who is involved. If the findings point to the accountability of individuals outside the agency or within our own ranks, we will act with the same resolve,” Nepomuceno said.
The Discaya couple are embroiled in allegedly anomalous billions worth of flood control projects, which are now under investigation by both chambers of Congress while an independent commission will be established to probe deeper into the irregularities.
