Metro Manila, Philippines – Four unsold luxury cars turned over by a contractor couple who figured in large-scale government project kickbacks will be auctioned off again this week albeit at lower prices, the Customs Bureau said.
In a press briefing on Monday, Dec. 1, Chris Bendijo, customs deputy chief of staff, said the second public bidding is on Friday, Dec. 5. The cars will be available for public viewing on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.
The price of the Rolls Royce Cullinan – the vehicle which contractor Sarah Discaya said she bought for its umbrella accessory – was reduced to P36.3 million from P45 million.
The three other vehicles and their adjusted prices are:
+Toyota Tundra 2022 (P3.4 million from P4.9 million)
+Toyota Sequoia (P4.7 million from P7.2 million)
+Bentley Bentayga 2022 (P13.9 million from P17 million)
The first auction of three luxury cars on Nov. 17 chalked up P38.2 million.
Bendijo said the agency may resort to direct offers should there be another failed bidding.
“The BOC is allowed under existing policy to accept direct offers. Meaning, say, that anybody who is interested in purchasing that item can send an offer to the BOC and then we will publish that. It’s still sort of a bidding, but we will determine based on that offer if there are other better offers,” he said.
The official said destroying the cars is also an option.
The seven luxury vehicles seized by the government were without import entries and had fraudulent payment certificates. Six other Discaya vehicles with questionable documents are undergoing review.
