PASIG CITY – The night fell heavy with curiosity on Tuesday as luxury vehicles began arriving at the Discaya family’s compound, just hours after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) carried out a search warrant there.
Among the cars that rolled in were some of the 12 high-end vehicles covered by the court’s warrant, including a Bentley and a Toyota Tundra. But where these cars came from remains unclear—raising more questions than answers.
Earlier in the day, BOC officials scoured the compound looking for the cars listed under the warrant. The search came after Sarah Discaya, during a Senate hearing, admitted that their family owns a staggering 28 luxury cars.
Inside the property, however, the authorities only found two of the cars covered by the warrant—a Maserati and a Land Cruiser. They also spotted a Cadillac Escalade, but it was not part of the list.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno vowed that the search will continue.
“Let’s not worry, these cars will be caught wherever they’re hidden. If they are hidden, I encourage the Discaya family to surrender them voluntarily,” he said.
But many of the cars on the warrant—including a Rolls Royce Cullinan, another Bentley, two Lincoln Navigators, and a GMC Yukon—were nowhere in sight. Even the Maybach mentioned by Sarah at the Senate hearing was missing.
For now, BOC and police personnel remain stationed outside the compound, watching closely.
Discaya Family Speaks Out
The Discaya camp denied any wrongdoing, saying the cars were not hidden.
“Some are being used, others are under maintenance, and a few were moved because of flooding in Pasig. These are legal. Why would we hide them?” said family spokesperson Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III.
He added that the vehicles were legally purchased from dealers like Speed Seven Corporation, AutoArt Corporation, and Frebel Import and Export Corporation.
“There is no law that prohibits us from buying expensive cars,” he stressed.
Still, GMA Integrated News checked one of the dealer addresses but found the site closed, with no signage. Questions remain on the legitimacy of some of these suppliers.
Bigger Picture
This controversy goes beyond the Discayas. Commissioner Nepomuceno confirmed the BOC is also looking into other contractors and personalities linked to questionable flood control projects who may own luxury vehicles.
“It just so happened we obtained a search warrant for this case first. But the Discayas are not the only ones we’re investigating,” he explained.
Adding fuel to the fire, Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada revealed information from the LTO that the Discayas actually own around 80 vehicles—half of which are luxury cars.
The BOC, now coordinating with the PNP Highway Patrol Group, said they will continue monitoring and intercepting any of these cars if spotted on the road.
For now, the mystery deepens. With cars still missing, questions unanswered, and investigations widening, the Discaya compound in Pasig has become the center of a storm that shows no signs of slowing down.
