Palace defends Duterte’s decision to crush smuggled luxury cars

Malacañang on Friday defended President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to destroy smuggled luxury cars, viewing it as a measure to address corruption inside the Bureau of Customs.

Duterte witnessed during the 116th anniversary of the BOC on Tuesday the condemnation of the smuggled cars, saying that disposing of them at an auction would only give the smugglers an opportunity to secure them legally.

The destruction was a clear departure from the usual process of putting smuggled vehicles up for auction to generate additional revenue for the government.

Two days after, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III proposed to the BOC to sell smuggled luxury cars at public auction but open only to "serious car collectors based abroad."

He said the proceeds can be used to help calamity victims.

But Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the condemnation of the cars was made in order for those who smuggled them in not to benefit.

"Ang mensahe po ng Presidente: 'the thing speaks for itself!' Kapag kasi ikaw ay nagpa-auction, diyan pumapasok ang korapsiyon, diyan pumapasok ang areglo!" Roque said at a press briefing in Sagñay, Camarines Sur.

"So ang mensahe ni Presidente noong pinasira niya ang mga luxury cars na iyan, tapos na ang ayusan, tapos na ang aregluhan Kapag ikaw nag-smuggle sisirain ang iyong sasakyan. Ang mensahe, huwag na kayong mag-smuggle ng sasakyan," he added.

Apart from those in the Port of Manila, 10 other smuggled vehicles were simultaneously destroyed at the Ports of Davao and Cebu on Tuesday. —NB, GMA News