BOC Auction Raises P25.7 Million From Discaya-Linked Luxury Cars; Bentley, Lincoln, Cadillac Sold

 

The Bureau of Customs continues to convert seized high-value assets into public funds, with its latest auction generating more than P25.7 million in a single day.

Revenue Recovery Through Asset Disposal

In its most recent public bidding, the agency disposed of three additional luxury vehicles previously linked to contractor couple Sarah and Pacifico Discaya. The pair had been associated with controversial flood control and infrastructure undertakings, prompting government action that led to the forfeiture and eventual auction of several high-end automobiles.

Out of 12 vehicles listed in this round, seven were traced to the Discayas. The latest sales underscore the state’s strategy of redirecting dormant luxury assets into usable fiscal resources. Rather than allowing these vehicles to depreciate in storage, authorities have opted to transform them into liquidity that can support public expenditure.

The total proceeds from the auction reached P25,771,374.15, inclusive of registration fees. The amount will be remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury to supplement funding for government programs and infrastructure.

Breakdown of the Major Sales

Three marquee vehicles accounted for the bulk of the revenue:

• A 2024 Lincoln Navigator was acquired by Cantinetta Espresso Concepts, represented by Gilbert Leoncio, for P6,950,000.
• A 2022 Bentley Bentayga was purchased by TDY Consumer Goods Trading for P12,178,174.15.
• A 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV went to Igorot Stone Kingdom, represented by Pio Velasco, for P6,623,000.

Notably, Igorot Stone Kingdom, a theme park operator based in Baguio City, has emerged as a recurring bidder in these high-profile auctions. The company previously secured a Rolls-Royce Cullinan during an earlier sale conducted by the same agency.

High-Value Units Still in Inventory

Despite the successful transactions, several luxury vehicles remain unsold. These include:

• Ferrari SF90 Stradale Mansory 2024
• Rolls Royce Phantom 2023
• Mercedes-Benz G650 V12 Biturbo 2022
• BMW XM 2024
• Lexus LX570 2018
• GMC Yukon Denali 2022
• Cadillac Escalade 2021
• Maserati Levante Modena 2022
• GMC Yukon XL Denali 2022

These unsold units represent substantial potential revenue in future bidding rounds.

Strategic Implications

The auction demonstrates a broader fiscal principle: assets tied to contested transactions can be repositioned as instruments of public benefit. Instead of remaining symbols of excess, these vehicles are being treated as recoverable value. In effect, the government is converting liability into liquidity.

For the Bureau of Customs, the exercise is not merely administrative. It reinforces the agency’s enforcement mandate while contributing directly to the national treasury. Each successful bid strengthens both revenue collection efforts and the state’s position that improperly held assets will not remain idle.