Owners of Subic blue plates warned

The number of unaccounted Subic blue plate cars that are subject to crackdown by Bureau of Customs (BoC) has climbed to 203 as the bureau warned its owners about their seizure and forfeiture.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said BoC tapped the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the PNP Highway Patrol Group for the expeditious location and apprehension of the motor vehicles through the issuance of alarm notices.

“There is a need to locate these motor vehicles for the collection of the proper duties and taxes and for the prosecution of customs personnel and smugglers involved in the illegal entry of these motor,” Morales said.

He said both of the agencies have been asked by Customs to be held in abeyance the registration of the SBMA blue plate vehicles following reports that some of them have been sold to third parties and converted into regular plates.

Among these vehicles are various models of 37 Mercedes Benz, 26 BMW, eight units of Porsche, three Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo units, and one Ferrari, among others.

These luxury cars are tax-exempted vehicles (TEVs) that enter the Port of Subic and can only be used around Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). They can be brought out of SBMA territory for official business but must be returned to the zone after 15 days.

BoC identified their consignees as Microvan Inc., Subic Acropolis, Portnet Pet Corp., One World Multi Ends, Jear Trading, Janitzek International Trading, Bambusa, Crown Trading, 4D Trading, California Waste, HOF International Inc., and Mexxon International Trading. By RAYMUND F. ANTONIO - Manila Bulletin