LTO, BOC announce joint probe over flagged Porsche sports car

On Aug 24, 2026

LAND Transportation Office Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao watches as Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno peeks inside the Porsche sports car flagged down for using unauthorized car plates and now suspected of being smuggled into the country (photo: BOC-PIAD).

THE Bureau of Customs and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) agreed on a joint probe involving a Porsche 918 sports car after discrepancies were found in the vehicle’s registration documents.

At a press conference on Monday, August 24, at the LTO office in Quezon City, LTO Assistant Markus Lacanilao said he and Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno agreed for the LTO to take the lead in the investigation with the BOC extending its full cooperation.

Last August 13, the LTO flagged the silver colored vehicle for using unauthorized car plates and ended up being impounded on August 17 after it was surrendered to the agency by the driver whose identity was withheld from the media, along with the car’s real owner.

As the investigation progressed, the LTO sought the assistance of the BOC to check the vehicle’s importation records.

Commissioner Nepomuceno noted that based on their records, the vehicle’s importation entry filed in September 2021 described it as a “brand-new Porsche Boxster.”

However, under the same entry, the ‘CP’ (certificate of payment) and the initial LTO registration described the vehicle as Porsche 918 Spyder.

Customs records also showed a significant difference in dutiable value—from approximately ₱3.26 million for the declared Porsche Boxster to approximately ₱48.02 million for the Porsche 918 Spyder.

The Customs Chief said the discrepancies highlighted the importance of continuous system modernization and stronger safeguards against potential irregularities.

“Ang ganitong modus ay nangyari sa ilalim ng lumang sistema. Sa pamamagitan ng eCP at mas mahigpit na koordinasyon sa LTO, mas nagiging mahirap ang mga ganitong iregularidad.

“Muli, ang full automation ang pangmatagalang solusyon upang tuluyang matigil ang maling kalakarang ito,” he said.

The vehicle would remain under LTO custody while the agencies coordinate its formal turnover to the BOC for possible forfeiture proceeding should investigation established it was smuggled into the country.