The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has successfully taken custody of all 12 luxury vehicles tied to the Discaya family following a court-sanctioned search at the headquarters of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp. in Pasig City, with importation documents now under review for possible violations of customs law.
In a statement late Tuesday, Sept. 2, Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said that the luxury vehicles, initially not fully accounted for, have now been located and secured.
The operation, conducted earlier in the day by the BOC’s Intelligence and Enforcement units, initially located only two of the twelve luxury vehicles covered by a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 18.
The vehicles found were a Toyota LC300 3.3 V6 ZX AT SUV 2024 and a Maserati Levante Modena 2022. With the remaining 10 vehicles unaccounted for, Nepomuceno forewarned the Discaya family that the BOC would ensure all vehicles were located without delay.
He noted that any discrepancies would lead to the full collection of duties and taxes, and that “those hiding or abetting the concealment of these cars will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
By evening, the BOC confirmed that seven of the remaining vehicles had been surrendered and were secured at the St. Gerrard compound in Pasig City. These included a Rolls Royce Cullinan, a Bentley Bentayga, a Mercedes Benz G-500, a Mercedes AMG G 63 AMG, a Toyota Tundra, a Toyota Sequoia, and a Cadillac Escalade.
Nepomuceno added that the last three vehicles—a GMC Yukon Denali and two Lincoln Navigators—are currently in authorized service centers for repair and will subsequently be surrendered to the BOC.
All 12 vehicles have been formally sealed by Customs and are under round-the-clock guard by BOC and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel.
Nepomuceno noted that the Discaya family heeded his warning and reiterated the Bureau’s resolve to pursue accountability. He also extended his gratitude to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) – Land Transportation Office (LTO), Philippine National Police (PNP) – Eastern Police District (EPD), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and officials of Barangay Bambang, Pasig City for their assistance.
Should discrepancies be found in the importation records, appropriate enforcement and legal actions will be undertaken pursuant to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)—in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify enforcement against smuggling. (Derco Rosal)
