Bureau of Customs crushes 116 motorcycles

Vespa PX's, a Harley, BMW GS, and Triumphs among casualties

As part of its efforts to discourage smuggling of vehicles, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) destroyed yet another batch of vehicles seized at the port. The offending vehicles were imported into the country, but their appropriate duties were not paid. Unlike the past seizures, this batch of 120 vehicles was made up primarily of motorcycles.

The Bureau estimates the combined value of the vehicles to be at P34.71 million. They were summarily crushed by an excavator last May 30 at the Port Area in Manila.

Among the vehicles destroyed were 112 Vespa PX scooters, a used BMW F-series GS, a Harley-Davidson Road King, and two Triumph Bonnevilles.

There were also four cars: a Mitsubishi Pajero, two Land Rover Defenders, and an old Volvo sedan.

The demolition was attended by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself. Other special guests included Finance Secretary, Carlos Dominguez III; Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President; Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, General Carlito Galvez Jr.; Department of Interior and Local Government Office-in-Charge, Eduardo Año; and Philippine National Police, Director General, Oscar Albayalde.

"The President's order is clear, sending a very strong message to smugglers, to stop what they have been doing. These smugglers have long been cheating the government. This has to stop," said Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.