By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Following the expose of Senator Raffy “Idol” Tulfo about the smuggled Bugatti Chiron cars worth $6 million or P332,388,000 at the Bureau of Customs-Port of Batangas (BOC-POB), a major shake-up in the country’s revenue collecting agency is being anticipated before the end of this year.

This possibility surfaced as Tulfo sought the investigation of BOC-POB District Collector Atty. Rhea Gregorio who he said seemingly failed to carefully check on the contents of the said shipment.

During plenary debates on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) proposed P29.3-billion budget for 2024 on Friday, November 17, Tulfo revealed that the two Bugatti Chiron cars, considered “super luxury vehicles,” worth $3 million each, passed through the BOC-POB and were reportedly “misdeclared” as Toyota Tacoma pick-up trucks.

“I need an entry from the BOC na ang dalawang Bugatti Chiron… kung meron ba tayong record na dalawang Bugatti Chiron ang dumaan sa pier at nagbayad ng buwis. Kasi this [are] super luxury vehicles… $3 million ang isa nito,” Tulfo demanded.

He said one of the “super luxury cars” was seen in Pasay while the other was reportedly spotted in Ortigas.

Senator Sonny Angara, who sponsored the BOC’s P29.3-billion budget for 2024, admitted that there was no record from the BOC about the entry of the two Bugatti Chiron.

“Ibig sabihin, ito po ay nakalusot, either misdelacration or swing, there is a failure of intelligence dito, Ibig sabihin, pumasok …walang record ito…pure smuggling ito,” Tulfo remarked.

The hard-hitting journalist-turned-senator said the vehicle’s owner should’ve paid the government P6 million in taxes.

He noted the alleged smuggling modus involved declaring the shipment of the luxury vehicle as a Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck so it would be tax-exempt.

“Ang idineklara nila sa kanilang ipinapasok na luxury vehicle ay Toyota Tacoma, kasi nga pag pick-up truck ito libre sa tax, pero ang laman pala nito ay yung Bugatti, I don’t think itong 2019 ito pumasok, pumasok ito this year. Dumaan ito sa Batangas at idineklarang Toyota Tacoma,” Tulfo said.

Atty. Rhea Gregorio and Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio could not be reached for comment as of this posting.

Maharlika Nu Media sent a Viber message to her office staff at the BOC-POB in Batangas City but the message remains unanswered.

(ai/mnm)

Photos of the two Bugatti Chirons plying the routes in Metro Manila (Courtesy of Top Cars Manila)