Article by:
Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) aims to generate about PHP200 million from the sale of 11 luxury vehicles, which will be auctioned at its main office in Port Area, Manila on Friday.
Lawyer Chris Noel Bendijo, BOC deputy chief of staff, said the estimated revenue is based on the floor price of the vehicles, adding that proceeds from the public auction will be remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury for various projects of the Marcos administration.
“If we base our bid on the floor price for these 11 vehicles, we would like to raise more than PHP200 million. Again, we are inviting our bidders. Aside from their opportunity to have these luxury vehicles at a lower price, let us remember that our proceeds will also go to the public treasury,” Bendijo said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing on Tuesday.
“So, hopefully, we will invite them to participate, our bidding will be more competitive, and then we will be able to contribute more back to our Bureau of Treasury.”
He also said there is strong interest from potential buyers.
“Many have expressed their interest. I hope they will register and pay the registration fee, and then we can be sure that we can convert these luxury items into revenue and the Bureau of Customs can contribute back to the public treasury,” he said.
The vehicles up for auction aree a Rolls-Royce Cullinan 2021, Bentley Continental 2021, Mercedes-Benz S680 Maybach 2023, BMW X6 2023, Jeep Wrangler 2021, Lexus ES 2019, Ferrari SF90 Stradale (Mansory) 2024, Rolls-Royce Phantom 2023, Mercedes-Benz G650 V12 BI Turbo 2022, BMW XM 2024, and Lexus LX570 2018.
Bendijo said a negotiated sale is set for March 26 for a Blue Bugatti Chiron (2017) and a Red Bugatti Chiron (2019).
Meanwhile, the BOC has requested a court to return six luxury vehicles linked to fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co, following the impending wind-up of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) later this month.
“We have received a letter from ICI to remind us that ICI is winding up and may end by the end of March. So, we were advised to take the vehicles that are in the ICI facility. What the Bureau of Customs did, we also filed a corresponding motion with the court to notify the transfer of these vehicles, based on ICI's request to transfer them from ICI to the Bureau of Customs,” Bendijo said.
“We hope that we can expedite the resolution of this motion, and then the custody, the physical possession of these vehicles can be transferred from ICI to the Bureau of Customs.” (PNA)
Log in with Google