The president Duterte attends the crushing of luxury cars

AFP

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 08:00

UPDATE
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 08:04

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The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte attended Tuesday the crushing of dozens of sports cars and other luxury vehicles as part of its campaign against corruption in customs.

A Jaguar, a Lexus, a Corvette Stingray, dozens of sedans German high-end and SUV japanese have been flattened in the courtyard of the bureau of customs in Manila.

The vehicles had been seized after their illegal entry into the archipelago, explained the authorities. In total, 30 cars of a value of 61.6 million pesos ($1.5 million CDN) has been processed into a sheet in Manila and two other cities in the philippines, by presidential decree.

“Made-in scrap,” said Mr. Duterte after the show, in a speech to the employees of customs.

In normal times, the seized vehicles are auctioned for the benefit of the coffers of the State. “I’ll pay, no problem,” promised Mr. Duterte.

The customs services have the task of collecting taxes on imports. This is one of the services of the State that generate the most revenue. But in all the independent surveys on public services the most corrupt, the customs head.

The commissioner of customs Isidro Lapena said at the ceremony that it had redeployed 691 of the 7000 employees of customs since its entry into office in August. Two customs officers have been dismissed and 16 others have been suspended due to suspicions of illegal activities, he added.

Came to power in 2016, Rodrigo Duterte, has made the fight against corruption and drug trafficking a cornerstone of his six years in office. He launched a bloody war and controversial against drug trafficking, during which the police shot and killed more than 4,000 people.