The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged local network of a Chinese national arrested in Makati City over accusations of smuggling luxury and sports cars into the country.
The suspect, identified as the owner of a luxury vehicle showroom in Makati that was raided by Bureau of Customs agents earlier this year, had previously supplied high-end cars to executives of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
According to LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, the arrested Chinese national is possibly part of a foreign syndicate specializing in the smuggling and sale of luxury vehicles.
“All of them had one importer which was the same importer of the Discayas, registered with the National Capital Region (NCR),” said Lacanilao in a press briefing.
He is referring to the couple Pacifico and Cesarah Discaya whose luxury vehicles were confiscated after it was found out that the cars allegedly have no import entries and certificate of payments.
The registration of vehicles linked to the group of arrested Chinese, as well as the result of the investigation wherein he was able to secure two valid driver’s licenses under Filipino names, were the reason why the regional director of LTO in Metro Manila and his deputy were sacked from their posts.
The LTO is now coordinating with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as an initial investigation to establish strong proof that the arrested Chinese and the company that processed the importation of luxury vehicles are connected.
Both the LTO and the BOC are conducting an investigation and verification to determine if the luxury cars displayed in the showroom owned by the arrested Chinese were imported by the same company.
On Nov. 27, the LTO and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) flagged the Chinese national in Makati City after his former Filipino employee, through the office of Senator Erwin Tulfo, filed a complaint with the LTO.
During the arrest, the foreigner was reportedly found with an unlicensed firearm. It was also noticed that his blue-colored Mercedez Benz did not match the description in the vehicle’s registration papers. (Aaron Recuenco)
