Earlier this week, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) held a public auction for several high profile luxury cars that were seized by the agency. The cars in question are several luxury vehicles acquired by the Discaya couple that were surrendered to the agency, as well as two Bugatti Chiron hypercars that managed to evade customs and were eventually seized. It’s been revealed that these vehicles had questionable documents, particularly with regard to how they entered the country. As such, the agency had seized them and put them on auction in hopes of recovering the customs duties that weren’t paid as well as government funds allegedly embezzled in the process. Of the more then 10 vehicles listed for auction, only one was successfully sold: the Rolls-Royce Cullinan ultra-luxury SUV.

Not surprisingly, this was quite possibly the most scandalous vehicle discovered in the collection of a contractor for flood control projects. The vehicle is priced at anywhere from ₱50 to 60 million when brand new. It could be even more as the vehicle featured an unusual Hermes orange leather interior, likely a very expensive optional extra. Sarah Discaya claimed she bought it because of its built-in umbrella. However, with the car boasting of a night sky constellation illuminated LED headliner, ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ suspension, concert hall quality entertainment system, and built-in champagne cooler, she’s getting more than just an umbrella.

The winning bid was a hair over ₱29 million, just a few thousand over its floor price. This is already the third time the vehicle has been put on auction. It was first put under the hammer in November 2025 with a floor price of ₱45.3, then in December 2025 with a floor price of ₱36.2 million.

The winning bidder turned out to be the CEO of Igorot Stone Kingdom, a theme park in Baguio. The new owner even quipped in Filipino, “That’s an expensive umbrella.”

He shared that he acquired the vehicle because of its historical significance. It will be put on display at the resort in order to show visitors the opulence such a vehicle offers to the very privileged few that can afford it. He reasons that very few people have even seen a Rolls-Royce, much less the inside of one. With the car’s notoriety, it will likely be quite an attraction at the resort.

Some car enthusiasts may call this a waste of such carefully-crafted and uncompromised example of automotive engineering. I happen to agree with the new buyer that putting on display in public space may be the best use of the notorious vehicle yet.

Two years ago, I proposed the same should be done to the confiscated Bugatti Chirons. After all, with the government being the auctioneer, and the winning bidder likely needing to present proof of financial capability, it’s unlikely that any financially capable buyers will even bite what with the risk of having their employment, finances, and lifestyle scrutinized. With the buyer being a resort this time, which regularly spends tens of millions on attractions, this is just another legitimate business expense.

In addition, a car like this that has already graced multiple broadsheet and news program headlines will likely be deemed tainted goods by any other prospective buyer that intends to drive it. Who would want to be seen driving a vehicle once labeled as smuggled and bought with illicit funds?

With this car’s new future as a museum piece, more people will see, and hopefully understand why corruption should be stamped out from our government. I’m glad the new buyer wants to show this vehicle as proof of the sheer greed and brazenness of its buyers.

Let’s not forget the car’s other offense: the lack of proper importation papers. High import duties are slapped on luxury vehicles like this built in Europe to discourage their purchase and protect the local and regional vehicle assemblers that give jobs to Filipinos and Asians. It’s to convince the buyer to opt for a more affordable and locally built vehicle like the Toyota Vios, Innova, or Tamaraw that also provides jobs to our countrymen. Yet since it was smuggled, that’s even more funding deprived from the country to pay for social services.

I just have a few suggestions for the vehicle’s display. Put up information panels that break down just how many schools, ambulances, or relief goods that the vehicle’s price and properly paid customs could have bought. Illustrate why it’s wrong to use government funds to buy these cars: It ensconces only one family in excessive luxury, as opposed to a flood control project that could benefit an entire province and prevent loss of life during natural disasters.

By putting the vehicle on display, we can educate our countrymen on why corruption is wrong. This one car could have paid for a dike, proper flood drainage, or even a classroom. Instead, it was used to isolate the buyer from the suffering they caused.

(Iñigo S. Roces is the editor of Manila Bulletin’s Motoring section.)