Customs takes custody of 13 Discaya cars
Metro Manila, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday, Oct. 1, seized 13 luxury vehicles linked to contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya who were tagged in anomalous flood control deals.
In a press statement, the BOC said it found sufficient grounds to take custody of the vehicles for irregularities in importation and documentation. The cars were impounded at the customs facility.
The agency noted that seven cars do not have import entries or have either insufficient or fraudulent certificates of payments. These are:
+ Toyota Tundra
+Toyota Sequoia
+ Rolls-Royce Cullinan
+ Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 AMG SUV
+ Mercedes-Benz G 500
+ Lincoln Navigator 2021
+ Bentley Bentayga
Six other vehicles, meanwhile, have secured import entries but either lack or carry questionable payment certificates.
The BOC said 17 more vehicles are subject for transaction audit by its post-clearance audit group.
In September, authorities conducted a search operation at the Discaya’s St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corporation building in Pasig City, where they discovered 30 vehicles.
“Our job at the BOC never stops with just seizures. We want the public to know that we are serious about the responsibilities entrusted to us, not only in our routine operations but also in pursuing actions that will help resolve longstanding anomalies which continue to burden our people,” Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.
The Public Works Department earlier asked the Anti Money Laundering Council to freeze motor vehicles related to 26 personalities identified in the flood control scandal, including those owned by the Discaya couple.
The DPWH said the Discaya companies were responsible for some incomplete infrastructure projects.
Sarah Discaya earlier admitted in a Senate inquiry that her family owns nine companies, some of which simultaneously bid on the same project.
The Discayas implicated lawmakers in the flood control mess, including Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez and former House appropriations chairman Zaldy Co.
NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report.
