BOC auction raises another ₱99.508 million for govt.

Remaining Discaya vehicles now with BIR

On May 4, 2026

SOLD! The auction of this Rolls-Royce Phantom (2023) last April 28 thru public auction for ₱25,548,050 help boost BOC revenue from non-traditional sources t0 more than ₱99 million thus far this year (photo: BOC-PIAD).

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) effort to raise more revenues thru ‘non-traditional’ sources again paid off with the success of another public auction at the Port of Manila (POM) last April 28.

In a statement, the BOC said the auction of a Rolls-Royce Phantom (2023) earned the agency an additional ₱25,548,050, including the registration fees of interested bidders.

The result boosts revenues collected from public auctions since the start of the year to ₱99.508 million, the BOC said.

It can be recalled that last March 10, Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno personally turned over to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) ₱102.4 million the BOC raised from the auction of luxury vehicles it seized from public works private contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya (Pinoy Exposé, March 10, 2026).

The couple are now under indictment in connection with the multi-billion flood control project scam.

BIR takes turn in probe of Discaya tax arrears

In a related development, the BOC announced on April 29 that it has turned over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the remaining 19 vehicles owned by the Discayas for its own investigation following the completion of the BOC’s enforcement action and in accordance with established procedures between the two agencies.

Customs Intelligence Field Officer Joel Pinawin placing a security seal to one of the Discaya vehicles before it was turned over to the custody and responsibility of the BIR (photo: BOC-PIAD).

The 19 units, including 2 ‘utility track vehicles’ (UTVs), are part of the 32 Discaya vehicles the BOC discovered in September 2025 based on a court-approved search warrant.

While the BOC initially seized 13 vehicles, the couple voluntarily surrendered an additional 17 vehicles and the 2 UTVs.

All 32 vehicles underwent Customs investigation for possible smuggling and tax deficiencies, consistent with the BOC’s law enforcement mandate.

The 13 vehicles forfeited by the BOC for violation of customs laws were sold off thru a series of public auctions that raised the ₱102.4 million the BOC remitted to the BTr.

The transfer of the 19 vehicles to the BIR came after Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza issued a memorandum to Commissioner Nepomuceno last April 29 whereby the BIR would now take custody of the vehicles for its own investigation and collection proceedings.

15 of the vehicles were already under the BIR’s ‘constructive distraint,’ while 4 of them were subjected to ‘constructive seizure’ in relation to an existing tax assessment involving St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corporation, one of the construction firms owned by the Discayas.

“With Customs proceedings concluded, the release of these vehicles allows the BIR to immediately carry forward its investigation.” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.