By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Thursday offered full support for the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) investigation into the luxury vehicles owned by the Discaya family.
In a statement, Lopez instructed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to cooperate with the BOC and to allow access to all registration records, importation documents, and verification processes of all luxury vehicles.
“Tutulong tayo sa BOC para matukoy kung dumaan sa tamang proseso ang registration ng mga nasabing luxury vehicles. Kung ano ang kailangan ng BOC ay ating ibibigay sa kanila (We will help the BOC to identify whether the registration of these vehicles went through the right process. Whatever the BOC needs, we will provide),” he said.
The move is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order for a whole-of-government approach in intensifying efforts against the illegal importation of luxury vehicles and the lack of certificates of payment due to the government.
“The DOTr maintains a zero-tolerance policy against unregistered luxury vehicles and vows to file charges against individuals who skirt or violate LTO registration processes,” he said.
Previously, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, said “all 30 vehicles (of the Discaya couple) passed documentary check. Meaning to say, all the documents are present in our file.”
He, however, noted that a comprehensive investigation is underway to verify the authenticity of the electronically transmitted registration documents of the luxury vehicles owned by the Discaya family.
In addition to the Discayas, Mendoza said, the LTO would also investigate the registration of the vehicles owned by other personalities tagged in both the Senate and House of Representatives’ investigation into the supposed ghost flood control projects. (PNA)
