79 ‘hot’ cars sold for P79 M

Thirty-nine "hot" cars, which ousted President Joseph Estrada assigned to his officials and later recalled when they became too hot to handle, have been sold for P79.7 million.

In a report sent to Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo (Lakas, Valenzuela), the Bureau of Customs said the smuggled vehicles that have been sold through public auction are mostly expensive V8 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers and Prados.

It said the vehicles had been forfeited in favor of the government.

The report showed that the highest price of P3.9 million was paid for a 1998 top-of-the-line Range Rover, while a 1998 Land Cruiser Lexus V8 fetched a price of P3.6 million.

Several V8 Land Cruiser VXRs were sold for P2.7 million each.

The 39 "hot" cars were among 52 sport utility vehicles seized in at the Subic freeport zone in Zambales in 1998 and 1999.

Customs plans to sell the remaining SUVs this month.

It was Gunigundo who had exposed the assignment by Estrada of the smuggled vehicles to his Cabinet members and other officials.

The deposed president even assigned a few units to some senators, including Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. who promptly returned the unit Malacañang sent to him.

Gunigundo was to find out later that Estrada had created a task force to systematically retrieve from Customs smuggled vehicles and other contraband, including sardines, shoes and clothing.

Some of the seized consumer goods were turned over to former First Lady Luisa Ejercito. Some vehicles were also assigned to her office.

The illegal assignment of smuggled vehicles was one of the charges covered by Article 4 of the Articles of Impeachment against Estrada. This last article accused the ousted leader of culpable violation of the Constitution.

Apparently to avoid falling in the same rut that the previous administration found itself in, the new administration has ordered the recall of all luxury vehicles, whether assigned by Malacañang or procured by the agencies themselves.

Education Secretary Raul Roco is reportedly sending to the Palace or Customs the V8 Ford Expedition and some Pajeros purchased by previous education officials.

Not all officials, however, are giving up their luxury cars. For instance, employees at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported seeing their officer-in-charge, Jose Mari Gerochi, using a Land Cruiser.

The man he replaced, Antonio Cerilles, used a Land Cruiser and a huge Ford family van.

At the mines bureau, which is under the DENR, the director and his assistant are using brand new Nissan Patrol Safaris.

Several other officials in the Quezon Memorial Circle area would not want to part with the comfort of their luxury vehicles.