Port Irene, Sta. Ana, Cagayan
July 30, 2018

Stressing his campaign against smuggling and corruption in the government, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the condemnation and public destruction of contraband luxury vehicles at the Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

“Kaya ito sinira ko ‘to because you have to show to the world that you have a viable place of investment and business. And the only way to show it is that you are productive and that you have the economy to absorb the productivity of the population,” Duterte said.

A total of 68 contraband luxury vehicles with an estimated value of more than PhP 277 million (as of 2014) were destroyed by backhoe and bulldozer before the President and Secretary Raul Lambino, current Administrator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). These sedans came from known manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, BMW, among others.

According to Secretary Lambino, the said 68 luxury vehicles were supposed to be included in the first set of smuggled vehicles condemned last March 14 that were also part of 800 contraband vehicles imported to Cagayan via Port Irene.

Moreover, eight (8) more high-end contraband luxury motorbikes from Harley-Davidson, Triumph, and Chopper manufacturers worth more than PhP 19 million (as of 2014) were bulldozed along with the 68 cars.

“This is in compliance with the President’s directive to destroy contraband motor vehicles in special economic zones to serve as a strong warning to smugglers,” Secretary Lambino explained.

The President was accompanied by Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Christopher ‘Bong’ Go in the event.

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