Headline
BOC to Discayas: Submit documents of luxury cars till end of Sept.
By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency
“As part of the due process, we are giving them 15 days or until the end of the month, (to submit) the required documents,” he added. (File Photo: Bureau of Customs PH/Facebook)
In a press conference at the BOC head office in South Harbor, Manila on Wednesday, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the dealers and owners of the high-end vehicles were ordered to provide the import entries and certificates of payment (COP) to support their claims that the cars were legally imported and acquired.
“As part of the due process, we are giving them 15 days or until the end of the month, (to submit) the required documents,” he added.
He said that because the cars were secured on different dates, different deadlines were imposed – from Sept. 17 until the end of the month.
At the same time, Nepomuceno reported that 15 of the 29 cars have either no import entries or COP documents, and these might be forfeited in favor of the government after the issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD).
“We would eventually issue a WSD or forfeiture proceedings because these cars have no import entry and no certificate of payment. If they do not have such documents, they are considered red flags and has the potential to be issued with a WSD,” he said.
Eight cars that do not have both documents are a Toyota Tundra 2022, a Toyota Sequoia 2023, a Rolls Royce Cullinan 2023, a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG 2022, a Mercedes Benz 6500 2019 (Brabus), a Lincoln Navigator L 2021, a Bentley Bentayga 2022, and a Toyota LC300 3.3 V6 ZX A/T 2024.
The seven other luxury cars that have import entries but no certificate of payment are a GMC Yukon XL Denali 2022, a Cadillac Escalade ESV 2022, a Lincoln Navigator 2024, a GMC Yukon Denali 2022, a Cadillac Escalade 2021, a Maserati Levante Modena 2022, and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer 2023.
On the other hand, the remaining 14 cars have a presumption of regularity as they were brought into the country by authorized dealers with import entry documents and certificates of payment.
These are the Land Rover Range Rover LWB 2019, Land Rover Defender 130 S 2023, Mercedes Benz GLS 350 D AMG L 2020, BMW X5 30D 2018, Mercedes Benz GLE 250 D 2018, Ford Bronco 2021, Jaguar F Pace 2.0D AWD 2018, Porche Cayenne V6 2022, Volvo Wagon XC90 2021, Mercedes Benz V 220 CDI Avant 2017, Land Rover Range Rover EVO 2020, Mercedes Benz Sprinter 316 CD 2017, Dodge Ram 1500 Rebel 2022, and Jeep Gladiator OVERL 2023.
Nepomuceno said they have already identified the ports of entry of these cars – the ports of Batangas, Cebu, Manila – and seven via the Manila International Container Port.
He also said that they are looking into the possible involvement of bureau personnel, as more than 10 “persons of interest” are assigned to these ports.
Meanwhile, he noted that they will also conduct a lifestyle check, particularly on the vehicles owned by four officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The DPWH officials are part of the investigation into anomalous flood control projects – former Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, former DPWH Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, former Bulacan Assistant 1st District Engineer Jaypee Mendoza, and former Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo.
