Solons declare war vs used cars importation

By Ben R. Rosario

Lawmakers yesterday declared war against importer of secondhand vehicles who have been reportedly denied government at least P12.9 billion in txes since 2001.

Sen. Richard Gordon, together with Reps. Loretta Ann Rosales (Aknbayan) and Constantino Jaraula (Lakas, Cagayan de Oro City), agreed that the government and Congress must now plug loopholes in laws regulating the importation of secondhand vehicles into the country.

Gordon said the entry of used vehicles also hurts the economy and jeopardizes job security for the thousands of workers employed by the local automotive industry.

Rosales authored a bill making the entry of riht hand drive (RHD) vehicles and its conversion illegal.

The three solons noted that the smuggling of used cars is rampant in Freeport. Particularly at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Gordon claimed that a culture of corruption was triggered by the importation of used vehicles which is being cornered by the handful of business firms allegedly protected by group known as “the 3 M clan’.

Despite prohibition set under the law, the importation of used vehicle via Subic Freeport continues because conversion into left hand drive is allowed by officials of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority ( SBMA).

Importers, Gordon disclosed, allot at least P100,000 in bribe money to be distributed to SBMA, the bureau of Customs, Land Transportation Office and the 3 M Clan.

At least 89,000 vehicles entered the country through Subic from 2001-2003.

As unabated smuggling activities continued, the SBMA lost P900, 000 in the past years.

Gordon said big Multinational Corporation have abandoned Subic due to corruption.

Rosales warned that unless government takes immediate steps to stop the importation of secondhand vehicles, the country’s automotive industry sector will fold up.

“RHDs endangered both the lives of motorist and the motorists and the livelihood of thousands of workers who rely on the local automotive industry,” she said.

Rosales also deplored that importers of RHDs are able to defy the laws against banning the vehicles by being able to get court decisions that favor the illegal activities.

The loopholes on the laws prohibiting RHD has prompted Rosales to file a bill making it illegal to import secondhand vehicles.