Gordon's claim on ownership of Subic motor company disputed by executive

By JONAS REYES, MB

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE — Subic Bay Motors Corp. (SBMC) is not owned by the Magsaysays but by a group of local and foreign businessmen," SBMC General Manager Ben Perez said yesterday, disputing a claim of Sen. Richard Gordon.

Perez was reacting to the senator’s claim that he allegedly saw a document in Malacañang that would revoke Executive Order 156 banning the importation of secondhand vehicles.

Gordon had also claimed that the Magsaysays are lobbying for the lifting of the ban in exchange for the clan’s joining the majority in dismissing the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo in the House of Representatives.

He had said the recommendation to allow the entry of secondhand cars in Subic Freeport was the real reason why AVE party-list Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay withdrew his signature from the impeachment complaint. He said Governor Magsaysay is the cousin of the congressman.

Perez said that SBMC is a legitimate business operating in the Freeport zone and that all its importations have valid import permits and proper documents from concerned agencies, particularly the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs.

"SBMC is into the transshipment of vehicles and we vehemently deny that our company is involved in any smuggling activity inside the Freeport," Perez said.

He also said the lifting of Executive Order No. 156 (ban on imported secondhand cars) is based on a Court of Appeals decision that the EO is unconstitutional.

"Since the implementation of Executive Order No. 418, we have been in constant communication and coordination with the SBMA in getting the proper permits for our re-export program after shifting our business focus to the export market rather than the local market," Perez said.

Through partnership with Apple International Co. Ltd., a publicly listed company in Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Azumaya Tohin Seisakusho Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan, SBMC has exported more reconditioned vehicles to the international market.

Recently, SBMC shipped out 130 reconditioned vehicles to Dubai and South Africa. Of the 130 units, 50 units, which were sold to Trust Co. Ltd., were shipped to Durban, South Africa. The remaining 80 units were shipped to Al Moin Motors in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Earlier, SBMC shipped out 181 reconditioned vehicles to Carlyna Trading Co., Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand. Carlyna Trading is the trading partner of Apple International Co. that distributes both brand-new and used vehicles in South East Asia and neighboring countries