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The Bureau of Customs has secured all 12 luxury cars linked to the Discaya family and subject of a search warrant
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The cars were seized at the Pasig headquarters of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp, a company owned by the family
The Bureau of Customs has secured all 12 luxury cars linked to the Discaya family and subject of a search warrant, the agency said in a statement on Sept 2.
The cars were seized at the Pasig headquarters of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp, a company owned by the family.
The Discayas are under investigation for their role in anomalous flood projects.
Earlier in the day, the BOC led by the Intelligence and Enforcement units, uncovered two of the twelve luxury vehicles: the Toyota LC300 3.3 V6 ZX AT SUV 2024 and the Maserati Levante Modena 2022.
The ten other vehicles were initially unaccounted for, prompting Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno to warn the Discaya family that the BOC will ensure all vehicles are located without delay.
He underscored that any discrepancy will lead to the full collection of duties and taxes, and that “those hiding or abetting the concealment of these cars will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
By evening, the BOC confirmed that seven of the remaining vehicles have been surrendered to the BOC and are now secured at St. Gerrard Construction compound. These include the Rolls Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, Mercedes Benz G-500, Mercedes AMG G 63 AMG, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, and Cadillac Escalade.
The last three vehicles — a GMC Yukon Denali SUV and two units of a Lincoln Navigator — are in authorized service centers for repair and will subsequently be surrendered to the BOC, Nepomuceno said.
All subject vehicles have been sealed by Customs and are under round-the-clock guard by personnel of the BOC and the Philippine Coast Guard, BOC said.
Nepomuceno noted that the Discaya family heeded his warning even as he reiterated the Bureau’s resolve to pursue accountability.
The BOC is verifying the import records of the luxury vehicles to determine compliance with customs laws. Should discrepancies be established, appropriate enforcement and legal actions will be undertaken pursuant to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the agency said.
If verified, legitimate buyers in good faith may be afforded the protection of the law. However, if the investigation establishes that these vehicles were imported without payment of the correct duties and taxes, corresponding enforcement and legal actions will be pursued.
The search warrant was served to the legal representative of St. Gerrard Construction, in coordination with partner agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), and officials from Brgy. Bambang, Pasig City.
In fulfillment of the warrant’s provisions, Commissioner Nepomuceno stressed that the Bureau of Customs takes the issue of the missing luxury cars of Discaya with utmost seriousness.
“We will ensure that these vehicles are located without delay, and if discrepancies are uncovered, all taxes and duties will be collected in full. Let it be clear: those hiding or abetting the concealment of these cars will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The Bureau is committed to decisive action to protect government revenues, enforce accountability, and uphold the trust of the Filipino people.”
The search was grounded on Section 140 (h) in relation to Section 102 (ff) of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the CMTA. Should the investigation confirm that the subject vehicles entered the country without the proper payment of duties and taxes, the Bureau will issue a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) in accordance with the CMTA.
