In the shadow of Baguio's misty mountains, a peculiar transaction unfolded this week that reeks of irony—and perhaps something far more sinister. The infamous Rolls-Royce Cullinan, once the gleaming symbol of the Discaya couple's alleged corruption empire, found a new home at the Igorot Stone Kingdom for a "bargain" P29 million.Pio Velasco, the park's founder and CEO, spun a noble tale: he's preserving "history" by saving the car from destruction, turning it into a public exhibit on corruption's floodgates.Charming, isn't it? A vehicle tied to tax evasion and smuggling scandals, now a tourist attraction. But let's peel back the layers. This sale isn't just a quirky footnote; it's a glaring spotlight on the rotten underbelly of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) auction system—a racket that lets smugglers dodge duties and reclaim their toys with a wink and a nod.

For the uninitiated, the Discayas—contractors Pacifico "Curlee" and Cezarah "Sarah"—burst into the national spotlight amid a flood control scandal that exposed how billions in public funds allegedly vanished into private pockets.Their fleet of 30 luxury vehicles, including this Rolls-Royce with its viral "free umbrella" quip, was seized by the BoC for customs violations: fake import documents, tampered X-ray images, and unpaid taxes estimated at P100 million.The cars trickled in through ports like Cebu, Davao, Batangas, and Manila, evading the hefty 200% duties on luxury imports.Fast-forward to February 11, 2026: After two failed auctions where the Rolls-Royce's floor price plummeted from P45 million to P36 million, then to P29 million, it finally sold—just above the minimum, to Velasco's outfit.

Coincidence? Hardly. This pattern screams of a well-oiled smuggling syndicate in cahoots with BoC insiders. Here's how the racket works: Smugglers import high-end cars illegally, knowing they'll get "confiscated." Instead of paying full duties—often double the vehicle's value—they wait for the auction. Bids are allegedly fixed; participants are in on the game, ensuring the original owners or their proxies snag the car back at a fraction of the cost.No full taxes paid, no real penalties—just a theatrical "seizure" to launder the asset. And the BoC? It pockets a cut from the auction proceeds, touting it as "revenue recovery" while the cycle repeats.

Look no further than the Bugatti Chirons in the same auction: Two smuggled beasts, viral in 2024 for fake BoC docs exposed by Senator Raffy Tulfo, with floor prices over P150 million each. No buyers. Now, BoC's deputy chief-of-staff hints at "direct sales" for unsold items like these and the Discayas' Bentley Bentayga.Direct sales? That's code for backroom deals, away from public scrutiny. It's no secret the BoC has been plagued by corruption—tampered entries, conniving personnel, and a reputation as the government's most rotten apple.Despite anti-corruption drives like digitalization and investigations of 120 employees, the agency still reeks of old habits.

And then there's Velasco himself. A building contractor who built his Stone Kingdom in 2021 as a "tribute to Igorot heritage," it's faced its share of controversies: operating without permits, safety violations, temporary closures, and dismissed complaints from Baguio City Hall.How does a theme park owner drop P29 million on a corruption-tainted SUV? Velasco claims it's for history's sake, but his park's checkered regulatory history raises eyebrows. Is this preservation or participation in the racket? His wealth and assets deserve a closer look—perhaps by the Ombudsman or BIR—to ensure no funny business.

This isn't just about one car or one buyer. It's economic sabotage: Lost revenues that could fund schools, hospitals, or actual flood controls. Smugglers laugh all the way to the garage while taxpayers foot the bill. The BoC must be held accountable—probe the auctions, expose the fixers, and scrap this loophole-ridden system. Auction off seized goods? Fine, but make it transparent, not a smugglers' bazaar. Until then, every "successful" bid is just another layer of the scam.

The Discaya Rolls-Royce may now sit in Baguio as a "monument to corruption," but the real monument is the broken system that let it happen. Time to dismantle it before more floodgates open.(TAMBULI NG BAYAN-Ronnie Estrada) #BoC #DeptOfFinance #rollsroyce #Discaya #bugattichiron #IgorotStoneKingdom #piovelasco #PCO #PBBM #raffytulfo #BagongPilipinas #baguiocity #bocscam #shamauction
Sources:Rappler,Philstar,GMAnetwork,YouTube,custom.gov.ph, inquirer.net

Igorot Stone Kingdom founder and CEO Pio Velasco inspects his newly-acquired luxury vehicle, Rolls-Royce, which was previously owned by the Discayas.BoC agents impounded the luxury sports car Bugatti Chiron.