BOC nets P66 M from ‘hot’ cars

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has chalked up P66 million from the auction of 29 "hot" cars since February this year, capped by the sale of five more luxury vehicles yesterday.

Special legal assistant and auctions adviser Imelda Cruz said total proceeds from the ninth auction held by the bureau was P10.752 million.

The winning bidders were Marietta Santos (white Range Rover, P1.98 million); Rolando Galang (black To-yota Land Cruiser VX Turbo, P2.17 million); Francisco Payawal (blue Toyota Land Cruiser VX Turbo, P2.17 million); Flor Baylon (maroon Toyota Land Cruiser VX Turbo, P2.17 million); and Antonio Salamea (white Toyota Land Cruiser VX Turbo, P2.23 million).

There were no takers for the other vehicles on the auction block, which included a black Porsche Boxster with a floor price of P4.3 million.

As early as November last year, the BOC started planning for the auction of 52 smuggled luxury vehicles that were seized at the Subic Freeport.

The "hot" cars became a subject of controversy after President Estrada ordered the units distributed for the official use of Cabinet members and government executives.

The units were eventually returned and put on the auction block. Some were sent to the Malacañang motorpool for safekeeping.

The first auction, held on Dec. 19 last year at the Philippine International Trade Center, turned out to be failure as there was not a single taker. Prospective bidders complained the floor prices were simply too high.

On Feb. 2 this year, the bureau sold its first set of vehicles, selling two sport utility vehicles for P5.151 million. Since then, six more successful auctions were held.

Controversy arose last month after The STAR reported that 17 "hot" cars were missing, six units from the Port of Manila and 11 from Cebu.

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora later denied the report and was backed up by Customs Commissioner Renato Ampil, who offered to account for all missing units.