Twenty-two brand new luxury vehicles including high-end sports cars known as supercars which were intercepted on separate occasions at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) are the subjects of ongoing litigation at the Bureau of Customs.

One McLaren, two 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, two 2017 Range Rover, one 2017 Land Rover Evoque, 12 units Toyota Land Cruisers — all consigned to Gamma Gray Marketing — are undergoing legal proceedings, according to a Bureau of Customs press release. The MICP Law Division is expected to resolve the dispute.

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Meanwhile, a 2005 Ferrari F430 2006 and a Lamborghini Murcielago consigned to Mary Joy Aguanta and Veronica Angeles, respectively, were declared forfeited in favor of the government by the MICP. However, the case is under appeal proceedings after the importers filed an appeal.

A Lamborghini Gallardo and a Rolls Royce consigned to Allan Usman Garcia and Roy Garchitorena, respectively, were intercepted in February 2018 and are now under examination and verification of import documents. Customs said warrant of seizure and detention will be issued once the customs authorities find a probable cause to issue the same.

Customs chief Isidro S. Lapeña said in the press release that the bureau will be steadfast in facilitating the disposition of the said cases. He also dispelled doubts and rumors from the public as to what happened to the supercars such as the McLaren and Lamborghini seized by the government last November and why these were not included in the demolition conducted on Feb. 6 in the Port of Manila.

“There are still a few who do illicit activities at the Bureau of Customs. This has to stop. We will not allow smugglers to blatantly disregard our laws, rules, and regulations on importation. The Bureau of Customs will be drastic in its efforts to combat smuggling and all forms of corruption,” Mr. Lapeña said.

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