Search launched for 30 ‘hot’ cars

If you see a late-model Porsche, a Jaguar, a BMW 5 series, or a Mercedes-Benz speeding on the road in Metro Manila, chances are it could be a "hot" car that is wanted by the authorities.

Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo I (Lakas, Valenzuela) said yesterday Subic Bay Metropoliyan Authority officials are looking for at least 30 expensive sports cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) that have been spirited out of the freeport by business locators or investors.

He said these locators are authorized to bring in vehicles and equipment but these should be used only within the freeport area.

They are allowed to bring them out only for 14 days, and if the vehicles and equipment are to be used outside hte freeport area, the locators are to pay import duties and taxes, he said.

However, Gunigundo revealed that the importers of the 30 sports cars and SUVs just spirited them out without paying taxes.

He said one of the 30, a late-model Toyota Land Cruiser, has been seized by Subic Customs officials at the MGM Car Plaza in Manila while on display for sale.

It was the Valenzuela lawmaker who exposed in 1999 the illegal assignment by then President Joseph Estrada to Cabinet members and favorite officials of luxury SUVs seized by Customs at Subic and Cebu.

He found out that an obscure Malacañang agency called Presidential Retrieval Task Force systematically retrieved seized vehicles and contraband that were then disposed of by Estrada and his wife, Luisa Ejercito, now a senator.

At least three senators — Francisco Tatad, Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. — were assigned SUVs during the Estrada administration. But Pimentel promptly returned the Pajero that Estrada sent to him.

The alleged illegal assignment of vehicles later became part of the impeachment complaint filed against the ousted president. Tatad, Oreta and Pimentel were part of the Senate impeachment court that tried Estrada.

Meanwhile, Gunigundo urged Subic authorities, particularly Customs and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to consider issuing color-coded license plates other than the blue diplomatic plates to vehicles brought in by Freeport locators.

He said smugglers among locators find it easy to bring out vehicles and to use them in Metro Manila while looking for buyers because of their blue plates.

"The moment these are in Metro Manila, you cannot distinguish them from those owned by diplomats. Even Customs would have a hard time looking for them. They could invite protests from the diplomatic community if they start flagging down each blue-plated car or SUV," he said.

He suggested that LTO assign a different color to plates it issues to vehicles brought in by business locators not only in Subic but also in other special economic zones.

This could make it easier for authorities to locate them once they are used outside freeport area beyond the allowable period, he said.