Filtered By: Topstories
News

Duterte saves smuggled Hummers for police, military


President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday made an exception to his policy of destroying smuggled luxury vehicles as a deterrent to smuggling.

In a speech in Pasay City, Duterte said he plans to distribute to the police and military the over 10 smuggled Hummers that were supposed to be destroyed during his visit to Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan last Monday.

“Para naka-Hummer na kayo. Kami ilang taon na namin ‘yan naglalaway-laway kami… Tapos ‘yung mga vans, because they are within the vicinity of the local governments, Cagayan ‘yan eh. Eh ‘di paghati-hatian na lang nila doon kung aabot,” the President said at the 68th National Security Council and 69th National Intelligence Coordinating Agency founding anniversary celebration in Pasay City.

A total of 68 smuggled luxury vehicles with an estimated value of P277.96 million and eight motorbikes including Harley Davidson, Triumph, and a Chopper valued at P19.57 million were wrecked through backhoe and bulldozer before Duterte and other government officials at Port Irene.

The estimated values were as of 2014, according to the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

Duterte last March 14 also witnessed the destruction of smuggled luxury vehicles valued at P27.2 million also at Port Irene.

The President is against auctioning off contraband because he said this would only give the smugglers an opportunity to secure them legally through the Bureau of Customs. —Virgil Lopez/LBG, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT