BATANGAS CITY: Bureau of Customs Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said here the other day that he has recommended the seizure of 14 luxury vehicles previously inspected at the Port of Batangas.
Nepomuceno said he submitted his recommendation to the office of Commissioner Alberto Lina last week. Lina is expected to decide on the recommendation next week.
“The basis for my recommendation is misdeclaration, gross undervaluation, no Authority to Release Imported Goods (ATRIG), no IAS clearance from the Bureau of Customs. In short, technical smuggling,” Nepomuceno said.
Among the luxury vehicles earlier tagged as “potential smuggling,” include a 2015 McLaren 450c, a Land Rover LR2, two units of Land Rover Defender 90, two Mercedes Benz C200, two Mercedes Benz GLK350 and a 2015 Ferrari California.
Nepomuceno has earlier identified the consignee as Monacat Trading Enterprises, with registered address at Unit 2 Matic Building, National Highway, Barangay Canlalay in Biñan, Laguna.
According to the BOC, the consignee declared the import value of the vehicles at P24 million but the bureau estimates the actual value to be more than P50 million.
Meanwhile, Batangas District Collector Ernesto Benitez revealed that a representative of Monacat Trading went to their office on August 12 to check on the status of their shipment.
He also confirmed that all 14 luxury vehicles are still at the Asian Terminal Port in Batangas and will remain there until BOC releases a final order.
Nepomuceno reiterated that he is not experiencing any power play as earlier insinuated by other reports.
“Modesty aside, the owners or importers know that we will do our job. Meaning, my office will not be pressured,” he said.
