Police seize right-hand drive cars in Cebu

CEBU CITY—Police seized 13 right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles during a raid on a warehouse here on Tuesday that revived memories of the rampant smuggling of cars in this city which had sent outraged car dealers pleading for help from Malacañang.

The RHDs were seized from a warehouse owned by Sha Japan Surplus Suppliers in Benedicto Building on De Vera Street in North Reclamation Area, Barangay Carreta.

Police conducted the raid after Regional Trial Court Judge Enriquita Belarmino issued a search warrant that listed as respondents Jin Mata, Shaquel Hussain (a Pakistani), a certain Saim and Sonny. The four were not present during the raid.

Chief Insp. Ricky Neron, head of the team that conducted the raid, said among the RHDs seized were four Suzuki vehicles, three Mitsubishi Pajeros, a Toyota RAV, three Isuzu Bighorns and two Honda Fits (Jazz in the Philippines).

Supt. Romano Cardino, deputy chief of the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said the seized RHDs (steering wheels are on the right) were to be converted into left-hand drives.

Neron said police conducted a monthlong surveillance before the raid. He said the importation, registration and use of RHDs in the Philippines is prohibited by law.

Over the years, Cebu has been identified as a port of entry for smuggled luxury cars and RHDs.

The House committee on good governance had conducted an investigation from December 2007 to early 2008 on reports that at least 400 smuggled cars were brought into the country through this city.

The reports were denied by the Cebu Customs district office.

The House investigation, however, failed to establish smuggling of cars in Cebu, which became a cue for Customs officials to start cracking down on the importation.

In February 2008, Cebu Customs officials seized 32 vehicles worth at least P10 million. Many of them were vans and sports utility vehicles from Korea.

Customs officials had also seized smuggled Hummers and Mercedes Benzes.