Eight out of 12 luxury vehicles owned by contractors Sarah and Pacifico Discaya have no official entry records in the country, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The revelation came out on Wednesday through a report by Jun Veneracion in 24 Oras. The Discayas were given 10 days to present proof that they paid the proper taxes and duties for their high-end cars.
All 12 vehicles covered by a search warrant—including a Rolls Royce and a Bentley—have already been returned to the family’s compound.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno clarified that the investigation must be handled carefully:
“The initial report shows there are no records for eight out of 12 cars. We need to be responsible and make sure our conclusions can stand in court if needed.”
But this may just be the beginning. The BOC is now working to secure another search warrant for the rest of the Discayas’ collection. Sarah had claimed they owned only 28 cars in total.
Yet records from the Land Transportation Office told a different story—showing the family had as many as 40 luxury vehicles.
Licenses Revoked
Adding to their troubles, the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) revoked the licenses of Sarah’s nine construction companies.
The board said Sarah violated procurement and licensing laws by owning and controlling multiple firms that joined the same bidding process for government projects.
But the Discayas pushed back. Their spokesperson, Cornelio Samaniego III, questioned the move:
“What was the basis for the revocation? There must be due process. You can’t just act swiftly just because you’re riding on the issue.”
Facing the Heat
Despite mounting investigations, the Discaya family insists they have nothing to hide. Their lawyer said they will not contest if an immigration lookout order is issued, as both Sarah and Pacifico remain in the country.
Samaniego assured the public:
“The Discaya family has nothing to hide. You can be sure of that—they will not flee.”
The BOC also confirmed it will widen its probe beyond the Discayas. Authorities are now looking into the alleged yachts and helicopters of other personalities linked to questionable flood control projects.
