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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider LTO probes into network of local connections of Chinese arrested for smuggling luxury cars

LTO probes into network of local connections of Chinese arrested for smuggling luxury cars

Published Dec 2, 2025 10:21 am
LTO agents check on a luxury vehicle that was intercepted in Makati City over suspicion of smuggling.
LTO agents check on a luxury vehicle that was intercepted in Makati City over suspicion of smuggling.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged network of local connections of a Chinese national who was arrested earlier in Makati City over allegations of smuggling of luxury and sports cars into the country.
The Chinese national, who was tagged as the owner of a showroom of luxury vehicles in Makati City that was raided by agents of the Bureau of Customs early this year, was a supplier of luxury and sports cars for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) executives before.
This was according to LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao who also disclosed that the arrested Chinese is possibly a member of a syndicate composed of foreigners that specializes in smuggling and selling luxury vehicles.
“All of them had one importer which was the same importer of the Discayas, registered with the National Capital Region (NCR),” said Lacanilao in a press briefing. 
He is referring to the couple Pacifico and Cesarah Discaya whose luxury vehicles were confiscated after it was found out that the cars allegedly have no import entries and certificate of payments. 
The registration of vehicles linked to the group of arrested Chinese, as well as the result of the investigation wherein he was able to secure two valid driver’s licenses under Filipino names, were the reason why the regional director of LTO in Metro Manila and his deputy were sacked from their posts.
The LTO is now coordinating with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as an initial investigation to establish strong proof that the arrested Chinese and the company that processed the importation of luxury vehicles are connected.
Both the LTO and the BOC are conducting an investigation and verification to determine if the luxury cars displayed in the showroom owned by the arrested Chinese were imported by the same company. 
On Nov. 27, the LTO and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) flagged the Chinese national in Makati City after his former Filipino employee, through the office of Senator Erwin Tulfo, filed a complaint with the LTO.
During the arrest, the foreigner was reportedly found with an unlicensed firearm. It was also noticed that his blue-colored Mercedez Benz did not match the description in the vehicle’s registration papers.
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