Customs to destroy 30 smuggled ‘luxury vehicles’ Tuesday

Aiming to send a strong message to car smugglers, the Bureau of Customs is set to destroy 30 “luxury vehicles” on Tuesday. 

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

“The result will be much better for the government than the revenue na mawawala kasi kung hindi maging strong ang message diyan ... they will continue doing such at mas marami ang revenue na mawawala sa gobyerno,” Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said Monday.

The scheduled destruction of smuggled cars is in line with the directive by President Rodrigo Duterte. The chief executive is expected to witness tomorrow’s event, which will coincide with the bureau’s 116th founding anniversary.

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“We have a total of 30 nationwide. There will be 20 here (Manila) and there will be 3 in Cebu and 7 in Davao. Simultaneous yan,” Lapeña said.

GMA News managed to search out the vehicles that are set to be destroyed inside the compound of the Customs’ head office in Manila.

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At least three high-end cars appear to be in mint condition while the rest are visibly outmoded, replete with dents and scratches.

Arranged in two rows, the seized cars were positioned against the backdrop of a bulldozer that will be used to crush the smuggled vehicles.

“I think that’s the best way to flatten para wala nang pakinabangan doon sa mga luxury vehicles na yun,” Lapeña said.

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But the much-talked-about exotic cars that were confiscated the past months, sports cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren, won’t be included among those to be destroyed yet.

Lapeña said legal processes have yet to be completed, preventing them from including those luxury vehicles in the condemnation list.

But Lapeña added there could be another round of public wrecking once legal impediments are addressed. — RSJ, GMA News