TRANSPORTATION Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza
yesterday relieved Region 7 Land Transportation Office (LTO)
Regional Director Alex Leyson in connection with the
registration of imported luxury and sports cars that were
recently seized in Makati City for alleged violation of customs
regulations.
Mendoza said that the DOTC through its
Security and Law Enforcement Service (ISLES) will investigate
the alleged involvement of several officials of LTO Region 7, in
the issuance of the registration papers to the luxury vehicles
said to have been smuggled through customs.
Also included in the investigation are LTO
Offices in Toledo, Mandaue, Cebu, Talisay and Lapu-Lapu Cities,
all in Region 7.
According to Mendoza, criminal and
administrative charges will be filled against those who will be
found responsible in supposedly faking the car registration
papers.
"I have given the DOTC-ISLES five (5) working
days to conduct the investigation and submit the investigation
report." Mendoza said.
The DOTC will also conduct a review on the
procedure in the registration of imported luxury vehicles to
formulate a more stringent measures and plug loopholes.
Operatives of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling
Group (PASG) seized 84 luxury cars, 81 of which were allegedly
imported illegally, from Auto Sports 24 Corp., an auto repair
shop in Pasong Tamo, Makati City, last December.
PASG head undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr.
said the vehicles were worth "hundreds of millions of pesos."
"Out of the 84 vehicles, 81 were found
lacking the necessary documents to prove that they were imported
into the country legally. As to why these questionable vehicles
managed to enter the country illegally is for some ‘bright boys’
to explain," Villar said in a statement.
Sources who requested anonymity claimed 30 of
the seized cars, including high-end models, could be priced
anywhere between P70 to P100 million.
PASG members, armed with a warrant of seizure
and detention, raided the Makati establishment and seized 21
BMWs, 16 Mercedes Benzes, 11 Porsche sports cars, four Jaguars,
three Volvos, and a Lamborghini. Ferraris, Carera, Boxter, Land
Cruisers, Range Rovers, Cherokee and a Mini Cooper were also
reportedly recovered.
Villar said the seized Lamborghini alone was
considered a hot car as its owner could not present a single
document to prove it was legally brought in. Villar said the
car’s license plate was also found to have been issued to a
legally registered vehicle.
Nadji Kasauf, one of the foreign officials of Auto Sports 24,
said their firm specializes in repairing high-end vehicles.
