The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to auction seven luxury vehicles owned by contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya — including a Rolls-Royce Cullinan complete with its umbrella accessory — on November 15 this year, an agency official confirmed Thursday.
“They submitted a voluntary forfeiture, I’m referring to the Discayas, meaning to say that they will no longer contest ‘yung seven vehicles,” said BOC Deputy Chief of Staff Atty. Chris Noel Bendijo.
According to Bendijo, the vehicles have no import entries or certificates of payment. The seven cars to be auctioned include a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley Bentayga, and a Toyota Tundra.
Earlier this month, the Customs bureau disclosed that the Discayas — who are at the center of the flood control corruption scandal — failed to pay an estimated ₱100 million in taxes for 13 of their 30 luxury vehicles.
For the Rolls-Royce alone, the BOC said the couple should have paid around ₱33 million in taxes.
Bendijo also announced that the November 15 auction will be livestreamed.
Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) spokesperson Brian Hosaka earlier said the BOC plans to auction off all 13 luxury cars. However, Bendijo clarified that the Discayas have submitted a position paper offering a compromise penalty for the remaining six vehicles.
The total estimated value of all 13 vehicles is around ₱200 million, Bendijo said. He added that interested participants must register before joining the auction.
Meanwhile, BOC employees, as well as importers, brokers, consignees, and owners of smuggled items, are disqualified from participating in the bidding process.