BOC: P100M in taxes on 13 Discaya luxury vehicles unpaid

An estimated P100 million in taxes was allegedly left unpaid when contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya acquired 13 of their 30 luxury vehicles, the Bureau of Customs has said.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras," the couple's Rolls-Royce Cullinan, for instance, is worth some P22 million, and P33 million in taxes should have been paid for its acquisition.

No import permit nor a certificate of payment of the tax was presented for the Cullinan.

The BOC issued a warrant of seizure and detention after it discovered that the 13  luxury vehicles had documentary issues.

The bureau will auction the vehicles if the Discayas fail to prove that the purchase of the luxury vehicles was legal.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the couple complied with the requirement to submit documents, but he said the bureau was not convinced that the documents and payments were in order.

GMA Integrated News is reaching out to the Discayas for comment.

Nepomuceno also said 10 Customs examiners, appraisers, and deputy collectors were summoned to explain why the luxury vehicles were able to pass through.

He assured that the investigation will go through due process.

The BOC said it would also investigate the vehicles of other personalities linked to the alleged anomalous flood control projects.

They will also submit documents to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure in relation to the latter’s investigation. –Mariel Celine Serquiña/ NB, GMA Integrated News