LOOK: Customs destroys smuggled motorcycles, vehicles
CRUSHED. The Bureau of Customs destroys smuggled motorcycles and vehicles at the Port Area in Manila on May 30, 2018. Malacañang photo
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) destroyed smuggled motorcycles and vehicles worth P34.71 million on Wednesday, May 30, with President Rodrigo Duterte present at the Port Area in Manila.
A backhoe crushed the following as the President watched:
- 112 brand-new Vespa scooters
- one used BMW motorcycle
- one Harley-Davidson motorcycle
- two Triumph motorcycles
- one Mitsubishi Pajero
- two Land Rover units
- one Volvo car
A used 2002 Ford Ecoline E350 and 2005 Ford Ecoline E350 were also simultaneously destroyed at the Port of Cebu. (READ: Pimentel: Why not sell smuggled luxury cars to foreign buyers?)
The BOC said the 116 motorcycles and 6 vehicles arrived on separate dates at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Subic, Port of Cebu, and Port of Iloilo.
"The President's order is clear, sending a very strong message to smugglers, to stop what they have been doing. These smugglers have long been cheating the government. This has to stop," said Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.
Malacañang photo
Malacañang photo
Bureau of Customs photo
Bureau of Customs photo
Malacañang photo
Malacañang photo
Bureau of Customs photo
At the event, Duterte also announced he has fired Customs Deputy Commissioner Noel Patrick Prudente. The President implied that Prudente was fired due to excessive personal travels. – Rappler.com
