-
The Bureau of Customs will auction 13 luxury cars seized from contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya on November 15
-
The cars were seized due to incomplete or irregular import documentation
-
A warrant of seizure and detention was issued after the submitted documents were found unsatisfactory
-
Estimated total auction value ranges from P100 million to P200 million; proceeds will support government priority projects
-
The Discaya couple is disqualified from the auction
-
BOC will file charges against the importer, and possibly against the Discayas pending investigation
-
Hearings ongoing for BOC personnel who were questioned on the illegal entry of the vehicles
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will auction 13 luxury vehicles seized from contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya on November 15, after finding their importation documents incomplete and irregular.
BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla confirmed the forfeiture, saying the agency was unsatisfied with the couple’s submissions to prove the legitimacy of the vehicle purchases.
“The luxury cars of the Discayas, which we issued a warrant of seizure and detention, are for forfeiture. So they will be subjected to the auction process by November 15,” Maronilla said in Filipino.
The BOC issued a warrant of seizure and detention in September after determining that seven of the cars had no import entry records or certificates of payment, while six others had dubious or missing payment documents.
READ: BOC issues seizure warrant for 13 Discaya-linked luxury vehicles
“They were given an initial 15 days to submit documents and were again allowed to present proof during the seizure proceedings. However, what they submitted was unsatisfactory to the Bureau of Customs,” Maronilla explained.
He said the auctioned vehicles could generate between P100 million and P200 million, with proceeds going to government priority projects.
He also clarified that the Discayas are disqualified from participating in the bidding since they have not established themselves as buyers in good faith. The agency also does not want the auction process to be used as a venue for retrieving the items that were illegally imported into the country.
The BOC will also file illegal importation charges under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act against the importer of the vehicles. If investigations show that the couple conspired with the importers, they will face similar charges.
Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said over 10 personnel had been issued show-cause orders to explain how the vehicles entered the ports under their supervision.
Maronilla said the employees had already submitted affidavits, and hearings are ongoing at the investigation division.
