Duterte witnesses crushing of 161.62-M luxury cars
In a matter of minutes, luxury cars seized at the Port of Manila, the Manila International Container Port, and the Port of Subic that were valued at 161.62 million were crushed by a bulldozer, pummeled to the ground by a backhoe, and reduced to metal scrap worth a measly 11,600 before the President’s eyes yesterday.
President Duterte has ordered authorities to give away the crushed smuggled vehicles to small scrap metal yards.
Instead of auctioning the luxury vehicles, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) opted to destroy them in compliance with Duterte’s order. It was an unprecedented move aimed at stopping the scheme used by smugglers to get the vehicles back during auctions.
A total of 20 cars, parked at
the Customs grounds, facing each other were rammed by a lone bulldozer, unexpectedly, to the amusement of the witnesses.
The sound of crashed metals seemed to be pleasing to the ears of Customs employees, prompting them to exchange cheers and claps while some held their phones up to document the ugly sight, which for the bureau is a satisfying sight as it sends a stern warning to the smugglers.
The cars destroyed were used Lexus, used BMW Alpina, used Honda Odessy, used Mini Pajero, used Mazda Roadster, used Mitsubishi MMC, used Toyota SW Towage Noah, used Corvette Stringray, used 2007 Mercedez Benz S550, used Ford Explorer Base 3.5L, used Nissan,used 1995 Mercedez Benz C280, used BMW 745, used BMW 745Li, used Hyundai Equus JS350, ised Audi A6 Cuatro, used BMW Z4, used Jaguar type S, and two units of used Pajero.
For the junk shops
After leading the destruction of more than a dozen smuggled luxury cars, the President asked about the value of the car debris and offered to pay for any liability.
“My order to the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary is to give them to those buying metal. At least, they might not be able to afford the cars but at least they can salvage some parts and play with them,” the President said in Filipino during the BOC's 116th anniversary rites in Manila.
“If there’s a liability there, I will pay. I know that there is still, however low or however small, it is still a thing of value. So make me a computation, walang problema ako magbayad [There's no problem, I will pay],” he added.
The President witnessed the destruction of 20 smuggled luxury vehicles by a bulldozer at the BOC grounds in Manila. The vehicles, reportedly worth 161 million, were earlier seized by Customs agents.
According to Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco, each car was reduced to about 11,600 value. “We will just coordinate with them kung paano 'yun, kung kanino ibibigay (who will receive it),” the deputy commissioner added.
Ten other luxury cars were simultaneously destroyed at the ports of Davao and Cebu.