GORDON REVEALS ENTRY OF ILLEGAL RHD CARS IN LA UNION

Senator Richard Gordon today revealed that he was informed by authorities of the Poro Point Development Corporation that a ship called M/V Win Bright containing 400 used right hand drive motor vehicles from Korea unloaded without import permits 56 of these vehicles in Poro Point, La Union, with the rest bound for the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  This, he said, was another brazen attempt at smuggling vehicles into the country despite ongoing investigations regarding the matter and a pending resolution on the issue at the Supreme Court.

 

Gordon said that he has received reports of car smuggling activities all over the country, reaching as far away as the Visayas and Mindanao.  “Imagine the audacity of these smugglers who seem to not have any fear of the law, that they find every means possible and move from port to port, if necessary, to engage in these illegal activities that are obviously very profitable for them but detrimental to our country,” Gordon said.  “We ask our people to pay more taxes with EVAT, but a powerful few are growing rich by breaking the law, and laughing all the way to the bank!”

 

According to Gordon, Juanito Antonio, and Tony Manguiat, President and Vice President, respectively, of the Poro Point Development Corporation refused to issue entry permits for the vehicles upon their arrival because the shipment did not have import documentation.  Despite this however, the importers managed to obtain a court order to release the cars. 

 

            “How could a court issue an order when Poro Point has jurisdiction on what should enter the port? Even in a free port, the port administration has power to control entry of goods in accordance with its development goals. This is something that should be studied,” Gordon said.

 

            Gordon said that the government has already lost billions of pesos in revenues as a result of these smuggling activities, and now stands to lose some more.  “If now again our own officials will allow the practice of cashunduan that has been rampant in this business particularly in Subic to continue, the government and our people stand to lose as much as Php 200 Million from this one shipment of cars alone,” he explained.