If you’re a car enthusiast, this video might be extra painful to watch.
Yesterday, the Philippine government, led by President Rodrigo Duterte, demolished at least 27 smuggled luxury and classic cars to show just how serious they are about cracking down on corruption in the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Twenty of the cars were destroyed by bulldozers at the port of Manila, while seven were located in the port of Cebu and Davao. Among the cars that were demolished were a Lexus, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Jaguar, Corvette Stingray, Jeep Wrangler, and Toyota Land Cruiser.
Less than 22,000 Corvette Stingray coupes were built in 1969.
LOOK: Smuggled luxury cars worth P61 million destroyed at the Port of Manila | via @dgplacido pic.twitter.com/kbS3ra8X31
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) February 6, 2018
Last week, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a speech that Duterte plans to “bulldoze” about 70 luxury cars this week.
But some Filipinos think that selling the cars and using the money for government projects might be a better solution.
Transportation journalist James Deakin shared his thoughts about plans to destroy a McLaren sportscar worth about US$265,500 on Sunday.
“Just sell it and build PWD (persons with disabilities) taxis or anything. Just don’t crush it,” he said in a Facebook post. “It’s not the car’s fault that people are dishonest.”
https://www.facebook.com/james.deakin/photos/a.582290931858856.1073741827.582256978528918/1595659543855318/?type=3&theater
In a comment, Deakin said: “Don’t get me wrong, I know why they are doing it but the car enthusiast in me is dying. I need a moment of silence.”
But he’s not the only one who thinks it was a waste to destroy the cars.
“Such a waste!!! Sell the cars for govt projects. Prosecute/fine the importer. They’ve just thrown away millions of money to feed the needy! Idiocracy at its finest,” Facebook user Dennis T. Gonzales said as a comment to the video showing the cars being destroyed.
Froilan Malimban said the government should auction off the cars and use the money for those who were affected by encounters between the military and the communist party or to buy food for evacuees.
But according to Duterte, auctioning off seized cars simply won’t do anymore because the importers of luxury cars are also the ones who end up buying the cars, now “legally.”
“Consignee fake news, fake name, fake address, Your style is you wait for one year and six months and then these are put on auction wherein you are also the ones who buy them. In that way, if these are auctioned then the importation of these luxury vehicles already becomes legal,” he said last week.
Destroying the cars is just one way the government is trying to rid the BOC of corruption, where officials are allegedly in cahoots with smugglers.
What do you think? Is this a good way to stop corruption in the BOC, or is it a waste of money? Let us know what you think in the comments below or tweet us @coconutsmanila.
