BATANGAS CITY: The Bureau of Customs has seized a bullet-proof luxury SUV at the Port of Batangas after its shipper allegedly undervalued its cost by more than P5 million, GMA News “24 Oras” reported.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service said the Lexus LX570 vehicle from Dubai was declared to be worth only P2 million when its value was P7.3 million.
“Kami spot check pa lang e, siyempre pag spot check alam mo na kung bulletproof o hindi. Magkakaroon ka na ng idea na kapag bulletproof mas mahal, parang mali yata ‘yung value [ng kotse na ito],” Batangas port CIIS officer-in-change Manuel Arevalo said.
A source told GMA News that the vehicle was shipped for politician ahead of the 2016 elections.
In August, 14 luxury vehicles including a bulletproof Land Cruiser were confiscated by the BoC at the Batangas port. The vehicle was said to have been reserved for a politician in Nueva Ecija.
According to a local company offering bullet-proofing services, demand for such vehicles increase when elections draw near.
“Dumadating ‘yung panahon ng eleksyon, one year before and after ang armoring natin medyo boom po kasi siguro dahil pag dating sa eleksyon mayroon pong need ang mga politician,” EXO Armoring Company Sales Manager Robert Saluta said.
Saluta said that most of their clients are politicians from Mindanao, Northern and Southern Luzon with even some Barangay Captains and Chinese businessmen.
“Siguro peace of mind din po sa kanila ho yun kasi pag mag e-eleksyon kami ang naririnig ho namin nauuso po ‘yung mga kidnapping so siguro protection po para sa kanila,” he said.
Investors troop to year’s first RTB issue; P134 billion awarded
THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) has awarded an initial P134 billion worth of three-year retail treasury bonds (RTBs), which...
