Duterte, who earlier ordered the condemnation of all smuggled vehicles to prevent corrupt officials from making money out of them, admitted he has been aspiring to provide Hummer vehicles to soldiers and policemen.

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has made an exception on his policy to destroy smuggled vehicles as he allowed government forces to use Hummer vehicles illegally brought into the country.

Duterte, who earlier ordered the condemnation of all smuggled vehicles to prevent corrupt officials from making money out of them, admitted he has been aspiring to provide Hummer vehicles to soldiers and policemen.

“When (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator Raul) Lambino said ‘we have Hummer here… I’m sure I heard more than 10, I could not exactly remember what was the figure. But I said do not destroy it because I’ll give it to the military and the police for their use,” the President said during the anniversary of the National Security Council and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in Pasay City last Tuesday night.

“Kami ilang taon na namin ‘yan naglalaway-laway kami (We have been drooling over those vans for years)… even the vans, because they are within the vicinity of the local governments… They can divide it among themselves if possible,” he added.

The Hummers, whose prices range from P1.8 million to more than P3 million depending on the model, were among the smuggled vehicles that were supposed to be destroyed in Sta. Ana, Cagayan last Monday. A total of 68 contraband luxury vehicles and eight smuggled motorbikes were crushed by backhoe and bulldozer during the ceremony.

Duterte previously rejected calls for him to auction the smuggled vehicles, saying the scheme would allow smugglers in cahoots with corrupt officials to recover their contraband.

The President also questioned the importation of some bumpers or vehicle accessories, which he said had slipped into the country without importers paying the proper customs duties.

“(The importer) did not pay the whole amount. He was just asked to pay P5,000. No receipts,” Duterte said, without naming names.

“You identify the employee sa Bureau of Customs and I will call the idiot – perhaps a call has been made – to come to Manila, to my office, we will talk,” he said.

The President said the smuggling would not have happened without the go-signal of customs

Featured image fromThe Philippine Star