CAR SMUGGLER : A REACTION PAPER

Bigcas grilled at House, decries lost business 

By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) Updated May 17, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (49) 

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected vehicle and firearms smuggler Lynard Allan Bigcas made a tearful denial of the accusations against him during a House committee hearing yesterday.

In an opening statement, Bigcas told the House sub-committee on Customs chaired by Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas that he was not dealing in stolen vehicles.

“I am a victim here. This whole thing even almost cost my life because the authorities launched a manhunt for me. They called me a terrorist, but I didn’t do anything illegal. I am not a bad person,” he said.

He said he came from a poor family and went to the US in 1997 with P6,000 in his pocket given by his father. He said it was his uncle who paid for his plane ticket.

“I worked hard, I worked long hours in the US to be able to save money until I put up a moving company in Houston, Texas. Last week, I lost my company and my employees because of this controversy,” he said.

Bigcas added that he was a motorbike enthusiast and had joined motorbike competitions.

“I love them (bikes), I worked to have them. They are like trophies to me. When I was a child, I didn’t have a bicycle,” he told the committee.        

He said he was willing to part with his bikes and vehicles “as long as I get my freedom and my safety back.”

In the course of making his statement, he became so emotional that he could not speak, prompting Fariñas to declare a short break so he could regain his composure. 

In yesterday’s hearing, Bigcas’ so-called “black book” was also presented. The names of at least one governor, two mayors and a Customs official were listed in the “black book,” which Bigcas described as his diary.

The names of a Gov. Jalosjos, a Bullet Jalosjos, a Mayor Ali, a Mayor Dimaporo, a Col. Pimentel, a Boy Plaza, and Noah Dimaporo, who is deputy customs collector in Cagayan de Oro City, were in the black book.

Bigas did not say, nor was he asked about, the exact identities of the Jalosjoses. The governor of Zamboanga Sibugay is Rommel Jalosjos while Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Seth Frederick Jalosjos is called Bullet by his friends in the House.

Responding to Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’s questioning, Bigcas said no congressman or government official is protecting him.

“Certainly not, your honor. You are not even mentioned in my diary,” he said.

He said officials mentioned in his black book were his customers for bike and car parts, which he bought in the US and shipped to the Philippines through balikbayan boxes.

Bigcas, who is a green card holder and had lived in the US, said he did not pay taxes on the spare parts since he knew that balikbayan boxes are tax-exempt.

His “diary” also listed collectibles from his customers. For instance, there was P200,000 due from a Gov. Jalosjos and P150,000 from Boy Plaza.

Fariñas said collectibles in one page totaled P2.1 million.

Also listed in the suspected car smuggler’s black book are guns, gun parts and conversion kits.

Fariñas said five firearms are listed under the name of a Mayor Ali.

He said the guns include an AK-47, an AR (possibly Armalite rifle) and an FN 5.7 (a Belgian firearm) worth a total value of more than $14,000.

There is also a note opposite the mayor’s name that says, “250k down,” which could mean that there was a P250,000 down payment, he said.

Under Noah Dimaporo’s name, there were entries about bike parts and Daewoo (South Korean industrial firm) guns and ammunition.

The entries under Bullet Jalosjos were about parts for Toyota sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

Committee members said Bigcas apparently dealt in guns, in addition to bikes and parts for bikes and cars.

This was denied by Bigas, who admitted that he had only brought in bikes and not firearms. “I was into bikes, not guns,” he said.

He said the entries in his diary about guns and parts were just inquiries from his friends.

“They inquired how much these would cost them if they bought these in the US, since they know that I lived there. I researched the prices through the Internet and informed them about these,” he said.

“But I never brought in guns or gun parts,” he assured congressmen.

Fariñas and his colleagues also could not believe Bigcas’ claim that he did not know that 11 of the 20 bikes and SUVs seized by the police, NBI and US Federal Bureau of Investigation agents from his two houses were vehicles stolen in the US.

The stolen vehicles include an $80,000 big “chopper” bike owned by screenwriter Skip Woods.

The FBI reported that Woods’ bike was stolen in Houston, Texas, where Bigcas used to live and operate a moving company, in January this year.

But Bigcas said he bought the bike from a Gregg Cook in Beaumont, Texas three years ago for $30,000.

He said Cook claimed he was the vehicle’s first owner, though he didn’t check the claim and the bike’s registration papers.

“I didn’t think that a bike worth $30,000 would be a stolen vehicle,” he said.

He said he dismantled the bike, “chop-chopped it and shipped it here through balikbayan boxes.”

The FBI discovered the bike when Bigcas posted it in his Facebook account along with some of his other bikes.

“I posted it because I was proud of it, it was like a trophy for me. I was not selling it. If I knew it was stolen, why would I post it? I am not that stupid,” he said.

The bikes and vehicles are still with the NBI and the police in Cagayan de Oro, except for Woods’ “chopper,” which the NBI had turned over to the FBI.

Committee members questioned the turnover, saying the big bike was part of the evidence in the case the authorities might file against Bigcas who, so far, is only facing charges for illegal possession of a shot gun and ammunition.

He promised to furnish the Fariñas committee with documents on the vehicles seized from him. He has petitioned a Cagayan de Oro City court to order the NBI and the police to return the vehicles.

(http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=686816)

            Lynard Allan Bigcas recently faced a house investigation regarding smuggling and stealing cars. Bigcas defended himself saying that he only loves motocross which was the only reason why he bought these expensive cars. Bigcas also claimed innocence from theft. According to him, he did not know that the Martin Brothers big bike he bought was stolen in the United States. He also denied the “black book”, which was recovered from his house, contained anything suspicious and that it was just his personal diary. However the authorities have found names of former governors and mayors and other prominent family of politicians which they believed he had transactions with.

            Car smuggling and other types of smuggling have greatly affected our country. Economically, the government cannot control the smuggled goods since they are illegally brought in. As a result, they cannot collect taxes. The government has a great loss especially with the expensive cars like the ones smuggled in by Bigcas. The government could have earned a huge amount of money from these goods. The name of the Philippines is also affected. The country already has a bad image in the international market. Other countries would think that they can easily smuggle their goods in the country since the authorities are not strict with their rules. They will bring more goods illegally to avoid paying taxes. 

            The taxes that are supposed to be collected from these goods would have been a great help to the Filipinoes. More taxes collected would mean more money for the government and more funds for their projects. The government could have had more projects for the people. They could have improved the education system by building more schools and hiring more competent teachers. The money could have been used to build more factories and hire more workers. This would mean more jobs for the people and lower unemployment rate. They could have built better roads and infrastructures for the people. Better roads would mean better transportation and faster distribution  of goods. Improving the infrastructures in the country could attract more investors which would eventually lead to a better life for everyone.

            The government stop smugglers if they really want to. After all, nothing is impossible especially if you are really dedicated to it. The “black book” that was confiscated from Bigcas shows some of his big time clients which, unfortunately, include names of prominent politicians in the country. This means that they know the illegal activities of Bigcas and tolerate it because they can benefit from it. If you will really think about it, they are the ones who are supposed to be protecting the country from smugglers. However, in this case, they are the ones who are tolerating these criminals. We could also say that they may not be Bigcas’ clients but his protectors. Of course, you have to write down the names of the people whom you have to pay to let your business go on.

            Again, I stand by my opinion that the Philippines has sufficient laws but ineffective implementation of these laws. I know that nobody is perfect but could these politicians at least try to be good? If they cannot follow the laws, it is better that they do not run for a position because they are setting a very bad example for the people. If the people see their leaders going the wrong way, do you think they would bother going the right way? The people will go the same way as their leaders since they are supposed to lead them.

            We can stop these illegal activities if we work together and with God’s glory. We have to work with each other to improve the country. We have to cooperate and do our part in the society. Let us stop disobeying the laws and start following them. We have to submit to the authority and stop thinking that anyone is above it. The most important of all is to have faith in ourselves, in our country, and in God. We can do this today and live in a better Philippines tomorrow.