Cars

I so agree with what Inquirer columnist Isagani Cruz said in his Aug.26 column of how idiotic or stupid was the government's decision to "massacre" 18 brand-new motor vehicles last Aug. 16.

Our government reasoned out that the luxury cars were smuggled therefore should be smashed to teach smugglers a lesson. Our government reasoned out that the signal effect of their move would outweight the loss in revenues. Our government reasoned out that allowing the luxury cars to be auctioned off would enable the smugglers to reclaim the cars through dummy companies or front individuals.

But the point is, as Cruz said, why should the cars be punished instead of the smugglers? After all, where are the smugglers? Have they been apprehended? Or as many people would think, are the big-time smugglers protected and coddled by Malacañang itself?

Or that the smashing of the cars is only a "show" intended to create the impression that the government is "doing" something to stamp out smuggling in the country?

"The slaughter of the vehicles was in effect a mindless substitute for the failure of the customs authorities to strictly enforce the laws against smuggling" Cruz said. I can't agree more.

As the government itself admitted, the country could have earned P30 million in auction proceeds and P10 million in taxed had the luxury cars been allowed to "live". Instead, it decided on an idiotic move that is intended only for "photo-ops" and nothing else. I can already imagine the smugglers grinning while watching the spectacle on TV, knowing that their illegal business is still protected, and that deals are still being made and ongoing transactions are still smoothly operated.

It's almost as foolish as the government's refusal to support our local scientists and their inventions. It's all down to how much they will earn from something.

Cruz mentioned, as with reports, that the more expensive luxury cars were actually spared but the government was not transparent of what it will do with these. On one hand, the government is showing inconsistency and on another hand, it shows its ineptitude in making sound decisions based on the national interest.

Smuggling, in both its traditional and technical forms, continues to pervade in the country because of the combined factors of bureaucratic and corporate corruption, and trade liberalization that results in relaxed Customs rules and less government regulation.

A government that aggressively supports its local producers and implements laws effectively naturally has no patience for smuggling in its own backyard. Unfortunately, we do not have this kind of government.