Cars destroyed to boost anti-smuggling drive

Gulf Times, Doha Qatar

Backhoe operators demolish smuggled luxury vehicles inside the Subic Bay Freeport yesterday

MANILA: More than a dozen smuggled luxury vehicles worth 30mn pesos ($652,173) were destroyed by the Philippine government yesterday to highlight its anti-smuggling campaign in the country.

A total of 18 vehicles, including four BMWs and a Lincoln Navigator, were crushed by backhoes and other heavy equipment at a depot in the Subic Bay Free Port Zone, a former US naval base turned into an industrial hub 90kms north of Manila.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves led dozens of government officials that witnessed the destruction of the luxury vehicles.

Amid criticisms that the cars’ destruction was a mere publicity stunt, Teves said the move should show smugglers that the government was serious about stopping their illegal activities in the country.

“While smuggling has not stopped affecting the nation, we believe this will serve as (a) deterrent that will more than compensate for the loss we experienced here of 18 cars,” he said.

Some politicians have criticized the destruction of the smuggled vehicles, noting that the government could have sold the cars to raise funds for various social projects for the country’s impoverished millions.

Senator Manuel Roxas urged the government to focus on arresting and prosecuting smugglers. “I say crush the smugglers, not just the luxury cars,” he said.

“Publicity stunts such as this will be forgotten in a few days’ time. What would leave a lasting impression are actual arrests of smugglers and their protectors in the government.”

Fourteen other smuggled luxury cars were spared from being destroyed after a claimant asked the department of finance to reconsider the Bureau of Customs’ decision to confiscate the vehicles.

The 14 vehicles, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porches, are now stored in a customs warehouse and would eventually be destroyed, according to customs commissioner Napoleon Morales. “I cannot allow the cars to be condemned yet,” he said. “There is a legal impediment and no final decision on the forfeiture. We have rendered a decision but the consignee filed a motion for reconsideration and that is allowed under the law.”

Smuggling has become a major problem in the Philippines, causing millions of dollars in lost revenues to private businesses and the government, which is facing a huge budget deficit due to poor tax collection. – DPA