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Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ruiz: PASG maliciously submit list of hot cars to House
CEBU CITY -- The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) acted maliciously in submitting the list of 29 alleged tax-deficient vehicles to a House committee without notifying her that her vehicle was in the list, Representative Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district) said Monday.
Ruiz said lawyer Edmund Arugay, PASG operations director, was sitting beside her during the hearing last February 6 when he submitted the list to the House committee on good government, chaired by Representative Pedro Romualdo (Camiguin).
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"I am a buyer in good faith. I am not stupid to put my name in the registration of the vehicle by the LTO (Land Transportation Office) had I known that it was smuggled. Secondly, I am the co-author of the resolution calling for the investigation of the alleged rampant smuggling of vehicles in Cebu," Ruiz said.
Ruiz explained that she bought the vehicle, a BMW Sedan model 2006 with plate number YBY 515, as a birthday gift to herself when she turned 50. She said businessman Rolando Ting offered it at P1.3 million but she was able to get a discount and pay only P1,050,000.
Ruiz said she only paid half the price because the other half was paid for by her cousin, who is now living in the United States.
She said the vehicle was registered by LTO and is covered by complete documents from the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Ruiz said she would prepare a privilege speech that she will give during the next hearing on the vehicle smuggling issue tomorrow.
Ruiz said PASG officials should have informed her that her vehicle was included in the list.
"I'm glad it came out because I will help protect the other buyers in good faith. Why should buyers in good faith be made to suffer?" Ruiz said.
For his part, former Cebu City hall consultant Romeo Cordova, who is in the list as the owner of a smuggled Isuzu Bighorn model 2006 with plate No. YCM 481, said that he bought it in good faith from Timken Enterprises in Mabolo last year.
"I don't know this was smuggled. It was on display for sale. I pay for it. How can I know this was smuggled when it was covered with complete documents and registration by LTO. I am a buyer in good faith", Cordova told radio dyLA.
Alita Pulga, LTO registrar for Cebu City, has denied that the vehicles were registered in Cebu City. She said Ruiz's vehicle was registered in Toledo City while Cordova's vehicle was registered in Talisay City.
The House committee on good government will resume the hearing on vehicle smuggling Wednesday at the Ramon V. Mitra Building, Batasan Complex, Quezon City.
Representative Antonio Cuenco, the principal author of the resolution calling for the inquiry, said the committee has issued a subpoena to Gavino Padin, the former registrar of LTO-Toledo City. He is linked to the registration of more than 3,000 smuggled vehicles.
"Padin appeared to have registered thousands of questionable vehicles so he should appear before the congressional inquiry," Cuenco said.
Asked to comment on the car smuggling issue, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said it will concern him more if it involves guns and illegal drugs.
Osmeña, instead, suggested that the questionable luxury vehicles be donated to the Cebu City Government. He said he is often forced to borrow vehicles from friends when entertaining VIPs (very important persons).
He said that when meeting guests, the City just use a van instead of a more appropriate vehicle.
"It doesn't alarm me. Guns, drugs, or something like that, then I'll be concerned," the mayor told a press conference.
"I personally don't have anything to do with this...as long as they pay taxes.... The important thing is everyone has to pay taxes," he added.
As this developed, the BOC in Manila apprehended 13 multicabs shipped from Cagayan de Oro to Manila but bearing plate numbers issued by the Cebu LTO. (EOB with RHM/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (February 12, 2008 issue)
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