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The Bureau of Customs issued a warrant of seizure and detention against 13 luxury vehicles linked to the controversial Discaya family
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The action follows an investigation by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee into alleged anomalous flood control projects of entities, including those owned by the Discayas
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Earlier raid at St. Gerrard Construction premises in Pasig uncovered 30 luxury vehicles, now under BOC custody
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Verification showed seven vehicles had no import entries or fraudulent Certificates of Payment; 6 others had entries but irregular CPs
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Remaining vehicles will undergo transaction audit by the Post-Clearance Audit Group
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Forfeiture proceedings to follow under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has issued a warrant of seizure and detention against 13 luxury vehicles linked to the Discaya family.
The Discaya couple are embroiled in allegedly anomalous flood control projects worth billions that are now the subject of a Senate investigation.
In a statement, BOC said Port of Manila District Collector Alexander Gerard Alviar issued the order following the directive of Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno and upon establishing sufficient grounds under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), pursuant to Sections 1400, 1401, and 1430 in connection with Section 1113.
The seizure covered 13 of the 30 vehicles previously uncovered during a September search operation at the premises of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corp. in Pasig City, a company owned by the Discaya family.
Verification with the BOC’s Management Information Systems and Technology Group revealed that seven of the 13 vehicles, including a Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 SUV, Mercedes-Benz G500, Lincoln Navigator 2021, and Bentley Bentayga, had no import entries or fraudulent Certificates of Payment (CPs).
The remaining six vehicles, which include a Lincoln Navigator 2024, a GMC Yukon Denali, a Cadillac Escalade 2021, a Maserati Levante Modena, a GMC Yukon XL Denali, and a Cadillac Escalade ESV, were found to have import entries but with irregular CPs. The remaining vehicles under BOC custody are subject to transaction audit by the Post-Clearance Audit Group.
Nepomuceno underscored that the bureau’s work extends beyond seizures. “Our job at the BOC never stops with just seizures. We want the public to know that we are serious about the responsibilities entrusted to us, not only in our routine operations but also in pursuing actions that will help resolve longstanding anomalies which continue to burden our people,” he said.
The BOC stressed that the warrant of seizure and detention is not the conclusion of its enforcement efforts but the beginning of forfeiture proceedings under the CMTA. The move is aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to uphold accountability and step up the government’s campaign against smuggling and corruption, it added.
READ: BOC tags 8 of 30 Discaya luxury vehicles as smuggled, 7 sans payment certificates
