The court said the BoC has no valid reason to hold the shipment after Roy Garchiterona of Naga City paid P2.9 million in Customs duties.
The BoC seized the very expensive vehicle when it arrived at the Manila International Container Port in May 2017. It claimed the shipment was grossly undervalued and the invoice used in the payment of Customs duties was spurious. But the court’s Second Division stated that the Customs bureau did not submit evidence to support the allegations.Nevertheless, the court noted the importer paid the higher assessment, erasing charges by the BoC that the OFW “willfully sought to defraud the government.”
“Despite the unfounded valuation, the OFW was able to pay the higher Customs duties, leaving no reason to deny the release of the car,” the CTA said in a 26-page decision.
Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)