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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider LTO, BOC chiefs should explain Discaya 'hot cars' to ICI--Ridon

LTO, BOC chiefs should explain Discaya 'hot cars' to ICI--Ridon

Published Oct 6, 2025 01:09 pm

At A Glance

  • Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II and Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno should be summoned by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as far as Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon is concerned.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II and Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno should be summoned by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as far as Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon is concerned.
This, as Ridon, chairman of the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (infra comm) reacted to reports that at least eight luxury cars allegedly owned by the Discaya contractor-couple were smuggled.
"ICI should invite BOC and LTO heads to shed light on the Discaya vehicles," Ridon said on Monday, Oct. 6.
According to the lawyer-solon, it's up to the independent commission to determine whether or not the two agencies could be held responsible for the entry of the "hot" vehicles.
"Both BOC and LTO's liability should be determined by the ICI as to how these vehicles were able to be imported, registered and used in the country," noted Ridon.
Ridon made this call a day after he reckoned that the Palace-created body should carry out a more intensified probe, especially with the recent finds of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control projects corruption scandal.
Contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya are central figures in the controversy, which has rocked the Marcos administration to its core.
Last week, it was reported that several luxury were confiscated from the parking area of St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City and taken to the BOC in Manila. St. Gerrard is one of the Discayas' construction firms.
In a subsequent statement, the BOC revealed that eight of the  vehicles “were imported without any corresponding entry" and were considered “smuggled and subject to the issuance of Warrants of Seizure and Detention.”
Ridon led two hearings into the flood control projects mess before the House of Representatives turned over its findings to the ICI.
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