The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will scrutinize imported luxury vehicles linked to the Discaya family, following their connection to massive government flood-control contracts, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno confirmed.
In an interview, Nepomuceno explained that inspections could begin through a Letter of Authority (LOA) when the vehicles are stored in commercial facilities such as warehouses. However, he stressed that the agency cannot inspect residential properties without a court-issued warrant.
“Since the information has been opened, I will look into it immediately. You can be confident,” Nepomuceno said on True FM. He added, “The power of the BOC through me, the LOA, I can use immediately when it comes to commercial establishments or warehouses. However, if it’s already a residential area or a house, we need a court order there.”
The customs chief also noted that his office is monitoring information circulating on social media as possible leads, emphasizing that the inquiry is not limited to the Discayas.
The issue erupted after Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto revealed that two of the country’s biggest recipients of flood-control contracts — Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction Corporation — are owned by the Discaya family, political rivals of Sotto in the upcoming 2025 elections.
According to Sotto, the two firms ranked second and third on the list of contractors, collectively securing a large share of the ₱100 billion allocated to 15 companies. That amount represents about 20 percent of the ₱545-billion budget for flood-mitigation projects released under the Marcos administration between July 2022 and May 2025.
Nepomuceno assured the public that the BOC will act on any irregularities that may arise from the investigation, underscoring the agency’s authority to probe suspicious imports tied to corruption allegations.
