BOC: X-ray images of Discaya luxury cars 'tampered'

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Wednesday that even the x-ray images of some luxury cars of contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya were tampered when these were brought into the Philippines.

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno narrated ways on how the Discayas, key figures in the flood control corruption scandal, were able to import their 30 luxury vehicles.

He said these were the among the methods used by car importers linked to other contractors tagged in alleged anomalous flood control projects. 

"'Yung x-ray din niyan, ang makitang image was Raptor for that Bugatti, meaning parang pickup 'yun, pero ang laman iba. So it's an elaborate method of cheating the government," Nepomuceno said. 

(The x-ray image that was seen supposedly for the Bugatti was a Raptor, meaning it looks like a pickup vehicle but the content is different. So it's an elaborate method of cheating the government.) 

"Tampered 'yun, ma'am. But if talagang na-x-ray 'yan, dapat lalabas 'yung totoo. So tampered 'yung image para 'yun ang magiging basis ng evaluation so you'll pay less," he added. 

(That's tampered, ma'am. If it was really x-rayed, the real image should be seen. So the image was tampered so that it would be the basis of the evaluation in order for them to pay less.) 

Another method employed, he said, was the tampering of the import entry system, meaning the vehicles entered the country with no import entries or even certificates of payment.

"For example, one case… 'yung Bugatti before, ang sasakyan literally, we suspected pumasok, for example, sa Batangas Port, and then 'yung import entry doon naka-lodge 'yan through the IT system although later on mabubura 'yan eh. That's the modus that we found out," Nepomuceno said.

(For example, for the case of the Bugatti, we suspected it entered at the Batangas Port, and then its import entry was lodged through the IT system. But later on, it was erased. That's the modus that we found out.) 

"And then the certificate of payment, supposed to be if it's Batangas, dapat doon din literally 'yung form but the form was purchased from the Port of Davao. So may scheme talaga," he continued. 

(And then for the certificate of payment, if it was supposed to be in Batangas, the form should literally be there, but we found out that the form was purchased from the Port of Davao. So there was really a scheme.) 

Asked by committee chairman Senator Pia Cayetano for the purpose of such acts, Nepomuceno answered, "Para mahirap ma-trace kung iimbestigahan."

(So it would be difficult to trace if these would be investigated.) 

The BOC official also expressed belief that the Discayas have personnel and officials in some ports who connived with the importers to get luxury cars into the country.

He also said the commission has to be equipped with technology-based solutions to address the problem of smuggling.

Nepomuceno, however, noted that out of the 30 luxury cars of the Discaya couple, 17 were bought from regular or reputable car distributors.

Earlier this month, the BOC announced that it would conduct a public auction for seven luxury vehicles of the Discaya family, including a Rolls-Royce Cullinan with its controversial umbrella, on November 17, 2025.

The BOC estimated that P100 million in taxes were left unpaid when the Discayas acquired 13 of their 30 luxury vehicles. — VDV, GMA Integrated News