The Bureau of Customs (BOC) conducted an operation at the compound of contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya in Pasig. According to the BOC, 12 imported luxury cars should be confiscated due to possible violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Only two were initially found in the compound: a 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and a 2022 Maserati Levante Modena. But later, all 12 luxury cars were also found, including a Rolls Royce Cullinan 2023, Bentley Bentayga, Mercedes Benz G-Class (Brabus), Toyota Tundra 2022, Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon Denali 2022 and Lincoln Navigator 2024.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said they will ensure that all unpaid taxes and duties are collected. According to Sen. Erwin Tulfo, the tax owed on vehicles could exceed ₱100 million, because the tax rate is almost 100% of the car's price. For example, if a luxury car costs ₱22 million, the tax is also almost ₱22 million.
Meanwhile, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto cast doubt on Sarah Discaya's statements at the Senate hearing. He called them “contradictory” and alleged that dummies were used in the Discaya family's construction firms. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, on the other hand, threatened that Sarah could be cited in contempt for allegedly lying.
Apart from the car, the hearing also revealed that Discaya companies are connected to flood control projects worth ₱1.3 trillion. Because of this, several senators are calling for stricter laws against misrepresentation and the use of dummy corporations in government projects.