Palace: ‘Hot’ cars not missing

There are 22 Customs-seized vehicles, not 17, being garaged at Malacañang, and none of them is missing.

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora assured the public yesterday that 22 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) can be accounted for while being held for safekeeping.

Zamora, whose office oversees the Malacañang motorpool department, told The STAR he has personally checked on the SUVs.

"The vehicles are with us because if they are left at the Customs warehouses, they will be cannibalized," he said.

The other day, Customs Commissioner Renato Ampil claimed 17 smuggled luxury cars seized by the bureau in Manila and Cebu and sent to Malacañang for "safekeeping" have been reported missing from the Palace motorpool.

Sources said an ocular inspection made by a Customs team at the motorpool revealed that several vehicles were missing.

But in a radio interview yesterday, Ampil clarified that there were actually no missing SUVs garaged at the Malacañang motorpool as previously reported to him.

He said further queries revealed that the vehicles were merely sent for a maintenance check, but failed to say where the units were.

In a separate interview, Press Undersecretary Mike Toledo said there were no new SUVs in the motorpool.

"I was told that those garaged there are only old cars, with only a couple that can be considered luxury vehicles," Toledo said. – Marichu Villanueva