Duterte stops wrecking of smuggled Hummer vehicles, vans

August 1, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte has said he stopped destruction of some smuggled vans and Hummer vehicles as he wants them to be given to local government units, military, and police.

Duterte disclosed this in his speech during the joint 68th National Security Council and 69th National Intelligence Coordinating Agency founding anniversary in Pasay City Tuesday night.

Duterte said when he was informed by Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport Administrator and CEO Raul Lambino that there were Hummer trucks and vans that were up for destruction, he ordered him not to include them.

"When Atty. Lambino said, 'we have Hummer there,' how many - was it 14 or...? I'm not sure, I heard more than 10. I could not exactly remember what was the figure. But I said do not destroy (them) because I'll give (them) to the military and the police for their use," said Duterte, who admitted he was one among those "salivating" to have a Hummer vehicle.

"Then the vans, because they are within the vicinity of the local governments, Cagayan, they can divide them among themselves," he added.

The vans and Hummer cars were supposed to be among those which have been wrecked last Monday at Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

Duterte witnessed the destruction of 68 contraband luxury cars with an estimated value of P277 million and eight smuggled luxury motorbikes worth over P19 million.

Duterte said he summoned in Malacanang an employee of the Bureau of Customs and his "chief of office" after he learned vehicle parts were smuggled in Cagayan by just asking the importer P5,000 and without a receipt.

He said he would ask for the BOC staff's explanations.

"And I will call PTV-4 to broadcast live our conversation and I would ask them, 'why did this bumper be able to get in? Just give me the paper. Where's the money, the corresponding payment?" he said.

He warned that if these BOC officials failed to come up with a valid explanation, he would send them to Basilan.

"So if you cannot produce that, Basilan is waiting for you. Catch all the IED there every day and that is also bothering me," he said.

Eleven people, including the alleged suicide bomber, died in the bomb attack on Tuesday in Lamitan City, Basilan. Celerina Monte/DMS