NOV.

20, 2014

NR # 3656

Solons seek probe of luxury vehicle smuggling in Cagayan de Oro port

Luxury vehicles amounting to P150 million were reportedly smuggled into the country from
Italy and the United Arab Emirates between late last year and early this year through the Port of
Cagayan de Oro, a lawmaker said.
Citing reports quoting an unnamed source from the Bureau of Customs, Rep. Rufus
Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) said Toyota Land Cruisers, Prados, Mercedez Benz,
BMW, Range Rover and sports cars were among the smuggled vehicles that were declared as mere
motor vehicles.
The imported luxury cars, which arrived into the country between December 31, 2013 and
February 8 this year, were reportedly released in the port of Cagayan de Oro and its sub-ports, the
Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) in Misamis Oriental and in Ozamis City,
Rodriguez said.
Reacting to reports, Atty. Ruby Alameda of BOC- Northern Mindanao said the vehicles were
not discharged in Cagayan de Oro Port but were transshipped from the MICT to the port of Ozamis
City.
The unnamed BOC source said investigation on the reported smuggled vehicles is now being
conducted.
Alarmed, Rodriguez and his brother Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante
Mindanao) want Congress to probe the veracity of the reports that Cagayan de Oro Port is being used
as a smuggling point.
They filed House Resolution No. 1596 asking the House Committee on Ways and Means to
dig deep into the issue to determine the steps that must be taken to put an end to the illegal activity.
Rodriguez, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsa Moro Basic Law, said the strategic
location of the Port of Cagayan de Oro within Macajalar Bay has made it the entry and exit point of
goods and passengers for Cagayan de Oro City, which is dubbed as the Gateway to Mindanao, and
the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte and Davao.
It is unfortunate that the Cagayan de Oro Port is allegedly being used as entry point of
smuggled luxury vehicles, according to Rodriguez.
There is a need to look into this issue and determine if indeed, smuggling of vehicles is
happing in the CDO Port and, if so, determine ways on how to further prevent it, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez asked the ways and means panel to summon officials of BOC, the CDO Port
Authority and other concerned agencies and entities to shed light on the issue. (30) mrs