Customs to auction off 236 motorcycles again

CEBU, Philippines - Some 236 motorcycles already auctioned off last Friday by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu but weren't sold will undergo another round of auction, an official said.

Rico Rey Holganza, BOC-Cebu legal chief and chief of the auction committee, said that only two bidders have participated in the bidding and only four lots or 40 units were sold amounting to P280,000.

Each lot comprised ten units at P7,000 each. The 236 units were divided into 24 lots and BOC-Cebu expects to earn P1.6 million.

The used motorcycles were confiscated by BOC-Enforcement and Security Services last year from various owners in the different parts of Visayas after the owners failed to pay their obligations to Legacy Group, a company owned by Celso delos Angeles.

The Legacy Group, whose company went bankrupt in 2009, reportedly owed BOC for the payment of taxes and duties for the importation of said motorcycles.

The 150 CC-sized used motorcycles with brand name "Fasspider" were imported from China and have been lingering at the bureau's parking area for over a year already.

Holganza said that the two winning bidders, who bought the four lots already withdrawn their bonds, an indication that these two will no longer participate in the next bidding.

"So far, wala pay new bidder," Holganza said adding in case the second bidding will be a failure, the district collector will make a report to the Negotiated Sale Committee at their head office in Manila for final decision.

"According to the winning bidders, mahal ra ang mga motorcycles. Di man sad mi makabuot diri nga i-lower ang price on the second bidding. Ang committee na ang mahibalo ana if they will decide to lower the price," Holganza added.

The second auction is scheduled on March 5, 2014 and the used motorcycles will still be sold at the same price. — (FREEMAN)