Luxury Cars to be Crushed in the Philippines

**aussiblue** · 04-02-2018, 10:40 AM

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/04/du...d-luxury-cars/

Quote:

Duterte to lead destruction of smuggled luxury cars

Published February 4, 2018, 12:08 AM
By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos

President Duterte is dead set on sending a message to smugglers after ordering the destruction of some 70 smuggled luxury cars seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Malacañang confirmed this week that Duterte ordered an end to the practice of putting confiscated luxury cars up for auction.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, in a press briefing in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, confirmed Duterte’s attendance in the destruction of the vehicles but will not stay there for long due to scheduled commitments.

“If I’m not mistaken parang (I think it’s around) 70 [cars] but don’t take that as gospel truth,” Roque said Saturday when asked about the number of cars which will be bulldozed on Tuesday.

“He will not stay long there so he will not be able to witness the destruction of all vehicles because he will still have to grace the NEDA anniversary,” he added.

Roque said the bulldozing of smuggled luxury cars will now be government policy.

“The thing speaks for itself. Hindi na po siya magto-tolerate ng mga auction-auction na nagiging dahilan para makapag-smuggle nga ng mga mamahaling mga sasakyan (He will not tolerate putting these vehicles up for auction as this becomes reason to smuggle luxury cars),” he said.

“It will now become policy to bulldoze smuggled luxury vehicles,” he added.

Roque also said that even if there are suggestions to just use the smuggled luxury cars as government vehicles, the President has already made up his mind.

“The President has already decided to send a message to smugglers that their happy days are over, we will bulldoze those cars,” he said.

On November, 2017, the BOC seized P24.3 million worth of used luxury cars and overweight steel products at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Australia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and China.

Among the vehicles confiscated were a 2012 Lamborghini Glardo, a 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago, and a white 2005 Ferrari F430.

The shipments which arrived in 2016 and May, 2017 all came from UAE.

Two months earlier, the BOC was also able to seize a used black Mercedes Benz, used white Mercedez Benz, wheel and tires, from Hong Kong. The shipment, arrived in August, 2017 at the MICP, was valued at P10 million.

In September, 2016, the BOC also placed on hold the release of seven brand new luxury Mercedez Benz vehicles while investigating the alleged undervaluation of payment of millions of pesos of duties and taxes.

In July, 2016, the BOC in Northern Mindanao seized three classic Mercedes Benz and Porsche cars from the United States valued at P4 million. The imported goods arrived at the terminal a month before.

Tags: Bureau of Customs, government vehicles, Harry Roque, Luxury cars, Manila International Container Port

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/965705/...-to-be-crushed

https://philippineslifestyle.com/lux...ushed-customs/

http://www.philstar.com:8080/headlin...er-seized-cars

**aussiblue** · 04-02-2018, 11:01 AM

And they don't muck around:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDEn8rc8KpU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGwx0_TscVQ

Blue Shadow · 04-02-2018, 11:08 AM

That video was heartbreaking

bangm001 · 04-02-2018, 11:59 AM

What an absolute waste. SURELY there is something better that can be done with these cars.

lovford · 04-02-2018, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangm001

What an absolute waste. SURELY there is something better that can be done with these cars.

The government doesn't need them, there corrupt enough.

**aussiblue** · 04-02-2018, 05:52 PM

Quote:

What an absolute waste. SURELY there is something better that can be done with these cars.

They used to auction them off but the illegal importers used to buy them so this was seen as the best deterrent.

**aussiblue** · 04-02-2018, 06:01 PM

Quote:

the government doesn't need them, there [they're] corrupt enough.

In fairness they are getting better and for all his many other serious faults, Duterte seems determined to eradicate corruption at all levels. My adopted children are from the Philippines and according since I adopted them I have been visiting irregularly on and off since the late 1980's. I notice an improvement in terms of lessening corruption every-time I visit. Customs is still an issue but Duterte is trying to solve that.

lovford · 04-02-2018, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiblue

In fairness they are getting better and for all his many other serious faults, Duterte seems determined to eradicate corruption at all levels. My adopted children are from the Philippines and according since I adopted them I have been visiting irregularly on and off since the late 1980's. I notice an improvement in terms of lessening corruption every-time I visit. Customs is still an issue but Duterte is trying to solve that.

A government that shoots drug takers in the head then throws them in the bay, and has 100 prisoners in 10 square meter cells for 10 years while awaiting trial, and does the same to mayors and senators is serious about something.

Maka · 04-02-2018, 07:27 PM

Sends a strong message though its a big waste imo.

Maybe auction them off for charity in other countries on behalf of the Philipino people & bring the proceeds back to them? Depends on supply but doable.

Its perhaps a win win for their government & the people, if it brings in some good coin why not lol!

cheers, Maka

Vesper Martini · 05-02-2018, 12:29 PM

I wonder if they do any VIN checks with the manufacture?
I'm betting most of these cars would be stolen from the country of origin.

The best way to reduce theft is to remove the demand

**aussiblue** · 01-08-2018, 03:08 PM

Another crushing moment https://pickle.nine.com.au/2018/08/0...odrigo-duterte

But the Hummers will be saved http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/01/1...olice-military

Ford17 · 01-08-2018, 04:25 PM

Sprintey · 01-08-2018, 05:08 PM

Those ones are now convertibles.

LTDHO · 02-08-2018, 06:36 AM

The Philippines president isn't all that bright huh!

A smarter person would have exported them and made a few million for the country (and the president) so the rest of the world could appreciate the cars.

Ford17 · 02-08-2018, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

The Philippines president isn't all that bright huh!

A smarter person would have exported them and made a few million for the country (and the president) so the rest of the world could appreciate the cars.

The argument is if they were allowed to be sold, it would then be profitable to seize them, with that profit motive creating corruption.

Vesper Martini · 02-08-2018, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

The Philippines president isn't all that bright huh!

A smarter person would have exported them and made a few million for the country (and the president) so the rest of the world could appreciate the cars.

A Government selling stolen cars, great idea...

slowsnake · 02-08-2018, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

A Government selling stolen cars, great idea...

First commonsense post I've read in the whole thread!
If they sell them then it provides a market for illegally imported high end cars, the buyers at auction are the same folk who imported them!
So they get a million dollar ( possibly ) stolen car for 20% of its true value, and all legal.

I don't like Duerte, he is as crooked as any I have seen, but its his corrupt mates who would of bought them!..
Not a good look is it...

Billy.

xxx000 · 02-08-2018, 01:53 PM

Export costs, sale costs plus the fact that many of the cars may be stolen or have otherwise dubious histories would mean no guarantee of even making money selling them

LTDHO · 03-08-2018, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxx000

Export costs, sale costs plus the fact that many of the cars may be stolen or have otherwise dubious histories would mean no guarantee of even making money selling them

I'd buy one of the Mclarens in a heartbeat. (If I had the cash)

Who knows the history of every car you have bought?
(Unless every car is new, but that would still be questionable)