‘Car import ban not yet final’

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) decision prohibiting the importation of second-hand vehicles is not yet final, the Automotive Rebuilders Industry of Cagayan (ARIC), the umbrella group of major used-car importers at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), said yesterday. 

Jaime Vicente, ARIC president, said the constitutionality of Executive Order (EO) 156 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prohibiting the importation of used cars, has yet to be decided upon by a lower court. 

In its Jan. 7 decision, the SC affirmed the legality of EO 156, prompting the Bureau of Customs and the Land Transportation Office to stop the processing of at least 600 imported used cars that arrived at CEZA’s Port Irene after the issuance of the decision.      

Vicente said the SC decision covers only a petition for injunctive relief sought by one of the members of ARIC – Multi-Resources Inc. – and not the constitutionality of the EO. 

“The Supreme Court ruling…does not dwell on the merits of the main case still pending before the lower court,” he said. 

Vicente added that an earlier EO issued by Arroyo, EO 418, affirmed the legality of importation of used cars in the country.

ARIC said more than 4,000 workers stand to lose their jobs if the government will ban the industry. – Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig