PASG7 pounces on 25 BMW cars

Agents of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group in the region yesterday swooped down on a BMW service center in Nivel, Lahug to verify ownership of at least 25 BMW cars of varying models that have been turned in by their owners for servicing.

The operation was prompted by a disclosure of the management of the BMW outlet itself that a growing number of BMW cars of questionable origin were being turned in for servicing.

BMW Motor Sales manager Arden Godinez explained to reporters who accompanied the raiding party that every BMW owner who wants his car serviced at the center is required to present a service booklet which contains pertinent information regarding ownership and place of purchase.

Godinez said this is because the center is intended to service only BMW cars sold in their two outlets, the one in Nivel, and the other one in Manila.

But Godinez said they were shocked to discover that based on information from the service booklets submitted with the cars for servicing, the vehicles appeared to have originated from Japan.

He said this is strange because the BMW is a German-made car.

Ricardo Collantes, the PASG-7 deputy director who led yesterday’s operation, said the action was meant to verify whether the cars submitted to the center for servicing were imported legally or not.

“ We received intelligence reports one month ago that there were smuggled cars that landed here, “ Collantes  said.

The report of rampant car smuggling in Cebu has prompted lawmakers to launch a congressional inquiry on the matter.

Collantes said the 25 BMW cars will be subjected to verification in coordination with the Land Transportation Office.

He said once ownerships of the vehicles have been determined and are found to have violated Executive Order 624 which prohibits the importation of used cars, the vehicles will be seized and their owners charged.

Collantes said it would be better if the owners of the BMW cars would avail of the “ voluntary disclosure program ” of the Bureau of Customs which involves the payment of additional duties and taxes in case they have committed “ technical smuggling ” through misdeclaration or undervaluation.

“ At the end of the day, the PASG is there to help both sides, the vehicle owner and the government. If they pay additional duties and taxes we will not seize the vehicle, ” he said.

PASG-7 director Ariel Palcuto said his men will enforce the law against all violators and was happy with the cooperation of the BMW management.

He said the operation yesterday sought assistance from BMW Motor Sales in enforcing the provisions of EO 264, particularly in determining the legality of BMW cars being submitted for servicing there.

Godinez said BMW Cebu is a member of the Car Dealers Association of Cebu, which complained to Rep. Antonio Cuenco about the alleged rampant car smuggling in Cebu.

Cuenco initiated the move, supported by all seven other Cebuano lawmakers, calling on the Committee on Good Government headed by Rep. Pedro Romualdo to conduct an investigation into the matter in aid of legislation.

The congressional inquiry kicked off last month and forced Land Transportation Office assistant secretary Reynaldo Berroya to relieve and swap LTO-7 regional director Alex Leyson with LTO-8 regional director Raul Aguilos. ( /JST )