Manila: The public auction of six luxury cars seized by the government failed to push through on Thursday after no bidders registered, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC). In a social media post, the BOC said the auction was declared a failed bidding 'due to absence of registered bidders.'
According to Philippines News Agency, the luxury vehicles offered through sealed bidding included a 2019 Lexus ES priced at PHP2,157,926; a 2023 BMW X6 priced at PHP7,046,485; a 2021 Jeep Wrangler priced at PHP2,207,334; a 2023 Mercedes-Benz S680 Maybach priced at PHP9,693,551; a 2023 Bentley Continental priced at PHP21,693,667; and a 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan priced at PHP27,002,462. The total floor price for all vehicles was PHP69,801,427.
The BOC noted it would provide updates on the next schedule or disposition of the vehicles. "The BOC really does not have control over bidder participation so while speculative, perhaps the bidders considered the price high," lawyer Chris Noel Bendijo, BOC deputy chief of staff, commented when asked why no bidders joined the auction.
Bendijo further explained that Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno has instructed the conduct of public auctions every two weeks, with hopes that more bidders will participate in future auctions when the floor price might be reduced. He emphasized the bureau's commitment to strengthening non-traditional revenue collection mechanisms such as public auctions to aid government revenue alongside regular collection efforts.
In a related event on April 28, the BOC-Port of Manila placed 12 luxury vehicles up for auction, but only a black 2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom, which had a floor price of PHP25,542,999, was sold to lone bidder Pureblends Corporation for PHP25,543,000. Two days later, a negotiated sale was conducted by the BOC Revenue Collection Monitoring Group, but two interested participants reportedly failed to meet eligibility requirements and were barred from joining.
The failed negotiated sale involved 21 vehicles, including four luxury cars linked to controversial contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, two GMC Denali units, a Maserati Levante, and a Cadillac Escalade.
