P'sinan town mayor given 72 hours to present papers on luxury cars, bikes

The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) has given a town mayor in Pangasinan 72 hours to present documents showing that proper taxes have been paid for the luxury vehicles and motorcycles seized from his warehouse last week.

PASG chief Antonio Villar said failing to submit the documents showing payment of Customs duties and taxes would mean the forfeiture of the imported cars, motorcycles, big bikes and scooters seized from the warehouse of Labrador Mayor Ernesto Acain and his brother Guillermo.

Among the vehicles seized were a Mitsubishi Eclipse model 1998, an Isuzu Bighorn Wagon model 1994, a Mercedes Benz model 2007, five assorted big bikes and dirt motorcycles, eight scooters, and 15 mountain bikes.

The three-day period, according to Villar, is sufficient for Acain to gather all the documents proving legal importation of vehicles.

For his part, Acain said he was ready to present the necessary documents to prove the legality of the imported vehicles, adding that he was not hiding anything and that proper taxes had been paid to the government.

Acain admitted before PASG-National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officer Atty. Dave Alunan that he owned the raided warehouse where the assorted vehicles were displayed for sale.

The PASG-NBI operatives swooped down on the GIA Trading warehouse after Villar ordered the raid following reports that the bodega was used as shelter for alleged smuggled vehicles.

The company was registered in the name of Guillermo. However, the mayor confronted the PASG-NBI operatives and said he owned the warehouse.

The Acain brothers showed documents of ownership of the vehicles which they claimed having purchased from other people, but both failed to present import documents showing payment of Customs duties and taxes, forcing the operatives to bring the items to the NBI office in Dagupan City for further verification with the government agencies concerned, the PASG said in a statement.