The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday denied social media posts alleging that the Rolls-Royce vehicle seized from the Discaya contractors was seen being driven around Metro Manila.
In a statement, the BOC maintained that the Rolls-Royce vehicle confiscated from the Discayas, as well as their other luxury vehicles, remain under the official custody of the BOC-securely stored under the strict supervision of the Customs Police.
‘It must be emphasized that the plate number of the Rolls-Royce shown in the viral post, which ends in ‘949,’ is different from that of the vehicle seized in connection with the Discaya case, which ends in ‘889.’ This clearly disproves the claim circulating online,’ the BOC said.
According to the BOC, no seized property may be removed or handled without proper authority and complete documentation.
Any unauthorized release, tampering, or movement of seized items constitutes a serious violation punishable under existing customs laws and regulations, including administrative and criminal penalties.
Meanwhile, the BOC said it has no intent to file cases against the individual who posted and made the claim online.
‘We understand that it may have been shared out of frustration or confusion. We just hope this serves as a reminder for everyone to verify information before posting or sharing online,’ the BOC said.
However, the BOC reminded and urged the public to rely only on official sources for verified information.