No bidders for seized luxury cars

The public auction of six luxury vehicles confiscated by the government failed on Thursday after no bidders registered to participate, according to the Bureau of Customs.

In a social media advisory, the bureau announced that the auction was declared a failed bidding “due to the absence of registered bidders.”

Among the luxury units placed under sealed bidding were a 2019 Lexus ES with a floor price of ₱2.15 million, a 2023 BMW X6 valued at ₱7.04 million, and a 2021 Jeep Wrangler priced at ₱2.2 million.

Also included were a 2023 Mercedes-Benz S680 Maybach with a floor price of ₱9.69 million, a 2023 Bentley Continental valued at ₱21.69 million, and a 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan priced at ₱27 million.

The combined floor price for all six vehicles reached ₱69.8 million.

The BOC said updates regarding the next auction schedule or possible disposition of the vehicles would be announced later.

“The BOC really does not have control over bidder participation so while speculative, perhaps the bidders considered the price high,” said lawyer Chris Noel Bendijo in an interview.

“Nevertheless, Commissioner Ariel (Nepomuceno) has instructed the conduct of public auctions every two weeks, so we are hoping more bidders would participate in the next auction when we have reduced the floor price as well,” he added.

Bendijo said the bureau continues to strengthen non-traditional revenue-generating activities such as public auctions to augment government collections.

Last April 28, the Bureau of Customs Port of Manila auctioned 12 luxury vehicles, although only a black 2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom was sold after a lone bidder, Pureblends Corporation, purchased the unit for ₱25.543 million, slightly above its floor price.

Two days later, the BOC Revenue Collection Monitoring Group conducted a negotiated sale involving 21 vehicles, but the transaction also failed after two interested parties reportedly did not meet eligibility requirements.

The negotiated sale included several high-end vehicles allegedly linked to controversial contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, including two GMC Denali units, a Maserati Levante and a Cadillac Escalade.