Accused smuggler of 'hot' cars surfaces, says he's a victim

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines  – A car dealer who had been suspected of smuggling imported luxury vehicles from the US yesterday denied the allegations and charged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with illegally seizing the vehicles used in his trade.

Lynard Allan Bigcas claimed the luxury vehicles were not smuggled but were legally purchased from the US.

Bigcas surfaced after almost a week in hiding, in the wake of allegations of smuggling luxury cars and of being a gunrunner.

Bigcas told a news conference here that he bought the vehicles from his company, the Allan Bigcas Moving Co., in the US.

“I’m a victim of all these,” he said.

Authorities have been hunting Bigcas after a joint team of NBI agents, the local police and representatives from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided his warehouse in a remote town in Bukidnon last May 4 and seized a number of luxury vehicles.

The raid was prompted by the complaint of Hollywood screenwriter Skip Woods who claimed his big bike was stolen in Houston, Texas last year.

Lawmen also raided Bigcas residence in Cagayan de Oro City, seizing several high-powered firearms and ammunition.

Bigcas, through his lawyer Alejandro Jose Pallugna, said he filed a suit against the NBI to get back the seized vehicles.

Pallugna said the raids and seizure of the vehicles and firearms were not only highly illegal and abusive, but also baseless and unjust as said personal properties are all duly registered and licensed.

At the same time, Bigcas also denied the allegations of the NBI that the so-called black book seized during the raid detailed his contacts in smuggling activities.

According to Bigcas, the book was his personal journal of business.

The FBI, on the other hand, confirmed that 11 of the 25 vehicles seized from Bigcas during the raid came from the US.

NBI regional director Jose Yap said the NBI tasked the Bureau of Customs under Northern Mindanao Collector Anju Castigador to issue the corresponding warrant of seizure on the vehicles and motorcycles taken from Bigcas for nonpayment of duties.

Since there was an allegation that these were imported and there was no payment of duties and taxes even as it is mere suspicion this already gives us the power to issue the (warrant of seizure), Castigador explained.

Yap also announced that charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition have also been filed against Bigcas.

Yap said authorities have done the macro etching of the engines of the vehicles seized from Bigcas.

He said the NBI is awaiting the reply of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) regarding the registration of the seized vehicles.

On the other hand, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the vehicles seized from Bigcas could not be considered legally registered.

Alvarez said the LTO branches where the vehicles had been registered were not authorized to register imported vehicles.

Alvarez explained the LTO should have demanded certificates of payment coming from Customs before accommodating the registration.

An imported vehicle supported by a certificate of payment would have meant that it passed through the BOC and paid the correct duties and taxes, and therefore not smuggled, Alvarez explained.

The certificate would also reveal the port of origin and port of entry of the vehicle, he said.

BOC Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Service Horacio Suansing said the imported vehicles and motorcycles were registered in satellite offices of the LTO in Lanao and Bukidnon.

Suansing said the two LTO branches were not authorized to register imported vehicles.

There are only limited LTO branches that are authorized to register imported cars, he said.

BOC-Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) director Nestor Gualberto explained they are only concerned with determining if the vehicles were smuggled.

We are now in the process of backtracking. We want to know the port of entry and the port of origin, he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is also investigating the suspected smuggling activities of Bigcas while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is focusing on the gunrunning activities of the suspect.

The NBI earlier revealed Bigcas is also importing high-powered firearms such as M4 carbine assault rifles and selling them to the highest bidder in Mindanao.

An NBI report showed the raiders were able to seize from the house of Bigcas in Talakag, Bukidnon a 12-gauge shotgun (M&F Zabala HNOS SRC-EIBAR made in Spain); 130 rounds live 12-gauge ammunition; 91 rounds live M-16 ammunition; four M-16 magazines; 129 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition; and 290 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. – With Edith Regalado, Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe