900 ‘hot’ cars to be destroyed in Cagayan

STA ANA, Cagayan  , Philippines  — At least 900 smuggled vehicles, including 100 luxury cars, will also be destroyed at Port Irene, according to Raul Lambino, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) administrator.

Lambino said the destruction of 14 illegally imported luxury cars on Wednesday was just “the  tip of the iceberg.”

“We must destroy all vehicles kept inside the warehouse here...to deliver a strong message that we will not tolerate anomalous activities using the privilege granted to the Cagayan economic zone,” he said.

Lambino said 53 Mercedes Benzes, a Lamborghini Murcielago, Chevrolets, a Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, 30 Hummers, 21 BMWs, Boxster and Carrera units, big bikes and seven Porsches, including a unit worth at least P30 million would be crushed.

“Some of the luxury cars are brand new,” he said.

President Duterte witnessed the destruction on Wednesday of 14 luxury cars, including a Maserati Quattroporte, a Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse worth P150 million, a BMW B12 Alpina, a Porsche 911 GT3, a BMW Z1, an Opel Manta and a Renault R5.

Lambino said the wreckage of the luxury cars would be used to put up a tourist attraction at the CEZA.

“We will build a sophisticated three-story restaurant using the wreckage of the high-end cars. It will be known as the Monumento ng Pagbabago,” he said.

Lambino said the wreckage of the 800 other vehicles – passenger vans, sport utility vehicles, miniwagons and sedans – would be donated to  cooperatives and other interested organizations in this town.