12 Discaya cars seized

Bureau of Customs personnel went on a daylong hunt yesterday for 10 of 12 imported luxury cars owned by contractor couple Pacifico "Curlee" and Cezarah Rowena "Sarah" Discaya, after failing to find the cars in the family compound in Pasig.

- EVELYN MACAIRAN and MARCO LUIS BEECH

Armed with a court-issued search warrant covering the compound at F. Manalo corner J. Pueblo Street in Barangay Bambang, the Bureau of Customs team led by BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno had intended to impound the imported vehicles for possible violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Only two, however, were found yesterday morning by the BOC Intelligence and Enforcement Agents: a 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and a 2022 Maserati Levante Modena.

A third vehicle, a Cadillac Escalade ESV 2021, was reportedly found, but it was not included in the search warrant issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Carolina Icasiano-Sison.

At past 9 p.m., the BOC announced that all 12 cars had been located. Nine were formally sealed by the BOC in the compound, which is also the main office of the Discayas' St.

Gerrard Construction, General Contractor and Development Corp.

The compound is being secured by the BOC and Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

Apart from the first three vehicles found in the Discaya compound, the BOC took custody of a 2023 Rolls Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, Mercedes Benz G-Class (Brabus G-Wagon), 2022 Mercedes Benz AMG sport utility vehicle (SUV), 2022 Toyota Tundra and Toyota Sequoia.

Three others are in a service center and will be turned over to the BOC: a 2019 Mercedes Benz G 500 SUV, 2022 GMC Yukon Denali SUV and 2024 Lincoln Navigator L.

In a radio interview, BOC chief of staff Jek Casipit said they tried to issue the search warrant twice on Monday night, but was not allowed to enter the property.