Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176292993052620250908-senate-blue-ribbon-discayas-16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya, owners of St. Gerrard Construction Company, attend a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged ghost flood control projects at the Philippine Senate on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — An “elaborate method of cheating the government” was revealed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) during the organizational meeting of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday.</p><p>BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said importers connive with some customs personnel after Committee Chairperson Senator Pia Cayetano asked how the luxury cars of contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya entered the country. The Discayas are implicated in the flood control mess.</p><p>One way, according to Nepomuceno is not having import entries and certificates of payment.</p><p>To better explain, Nepomuceno cited a different case they had before.</p><p>“Yung Bugatti, for example before, ang sasakyan literally we suspected pumasok for example sa Batangas port. And then the import entry dun naka-lodge yan through the IT system, although later on mabubura yan eh. That’s the modus that we found out. And then the certificate of payment supposed to be if it’s Batangas, dapat dun din literally yung form. But the form was purchased from the port of Davao. So may scheme talaga,” Nepomuceno said.</p><p>He said that a certificate of payment is purchased from a different port to make tracing difficult if ever an investigation is conducted.</p><p>Nepomuceno added that X-ray images are also tampered.</p><p>“If talagang na-X-ray yan dapat lalabas yung totoo. So tampered yung image para yun ang magiging basis ng valuation so you will pay less,” he said. “It’s an elaborate method of cheating the government.”</p><p>The second method allegedly used is having an import entry but no certificate of payment.</p><p>Out of the 30 luxury vehicles of the Discayas, Nepomuceno said 17 were bought from regular dealers but these could not be released.</p><p>“If this is from ill-gotten wealth, hindi namin ire-release 17 cars,” Nepomuceno said.</p><p>Committee on Finance chairperson Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian pointed out that there is a syndicate in the BOC.</p><p>According to Nepomuceno, they have already issued show cause orders against more than 10 BOC personnel. They are conducting an internal investigation and submitted a report to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).</p><p>They are also focusing on digitalization of their system and pursuing transparency and accountability.</p><p>Cayetano agreed that digitalization would be a solution.</p><p>“When we improve our system and really make it digital and get the best possible system, that will allow BOC to really track this. It can be done, they just have to invest in that system,” Cayetano told reporters after the hearing.</p><p>“Yung role ng legislator na agad-agad na nakita is by way of budget, to assist BOC in their needs,” she added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/11/3/customs-to-auction-7-discaya-owned-luxury-cars-on-nov-17-public-viewing-on-nov-10-12-2018">Customs to auction 7 Discaya-owned luxury cars on Nov 17, public viewing on Nov 10-12</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/1/gov-t-could-earn-p220m-from-selling-discaya-luxury-cars-once-forfeited-1641">Gov&#x27;t could earn P220M from selling Discaya luxury cars once forfeited</a></div><div><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G49BH4a84zU" title="PH Customs bureau raids Discaya compound, seizes luxury cars | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N3_2m8d51Pk" title="Jinggoy ipinadetalye ang halaga ng mga luxury cars ni Sarah Discaya | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QxvMJ3zAvDw" title="Sarah Discaya breaks silence, says viral interview was spliced | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div>

<p>An “elaborate method of cheating the government” was revealed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) during the organizational meeting of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday. </p>

An “elaborate method of cheating the government” was revealed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) during the organizational meeting of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday.

Customs reveals ‘elaborate method of cheating gov’ used by importers

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Customs reveals ‘elaborate method of cheating gov’ used by importers

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 12, 2025 02:50 PM PHT

|

Updated November 12, 2025 03:55 PM PHT

Read More:

Discaya

luxury vehicle

boc

ariel nepomuceno

Discaya cars

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.