All About Cars

An influential Cebuano businessman, who has connections with politicians, has been importing high-end cars from Europe for more than a year, an official of the broker’s association in Cebu alleged.

Ricky Gantuangco, external vice president of the Professional Brokers Association of the Philippines-Visayas, said he received reports from an insider at the Bureau of Customs that the businessman, whom he refused to name, could import luxury cars from Europe at least once a month.

Gantuangco said two of the congressmen-friends of the businessman come from Mindanao while the third is from Cebu.

He added that the businessman was allowed to bring in luxury cars because of his congressmen-friends.

The Cebu Auto Dealers Association (Cada) had earlier complained of car smuggling in Cebu.

Gantuangco has called for a congressional inquiry after Cada exposed the huge discrepancy over the registration of new and used vehicles.

He said he would ask for an executive session if called to testify during the House investigation on the alleged car smuggling in Cebu.

“I am willing to give the names of those I learned who are involved in the smuggling activities in an executive session but what I am after is how to correct the system,” Gantuangco said.

He added he has some recommendations, which could help curb or even stop the car smuggling.

He recommended the improvement of the Customs systems by inviting representatives of Cada, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, the brokers association and civil society, to witness the scanning of container vans.

“What is really important is to focus on how to improve the system [and] not to run against these persons who will just use all the excuses to absolve them from any crime,” Gantuangco said.

Jose Manuel Cuenco, president of Cada, also said some businessmen in Cebu who were importing luxury vehicles had friends in “high places.”

Cuenco alleged that more than 10 businessmen in Cebu had influential friends in Congress and in other government agencies, such as the Land Transportation Office and Customs.

These friends have been conniving in the car smuggling activities, which have been going on for the past five years, he added.

Cuenco claimed that the businessmen first engaged in importing surplus parts and vehicles, then expanded to bringing in used luxury cars and have been involved in car theft.

He expressed hope that the brokers would testify in Congress because they knew more.

Cada had claimed that the smuggling of luxury cars had become rampant in Cebu as evidenced by almost 20,000 difference between the number of vehicles registered by the LTO in the region in 2006 compared to the number of cars sold by legitimate car dealers.