© Handout / Reuters
Some 68 Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Mercedes and Harley Davidson motorcycles were crushed under the tracks of a bulldozer as Duterte continued his policy of destroying vehicles smuggled into the Philippines.
The operation took place in Cagayan Province, the northernmost area of Luzon Island, and was monitored by Duterte, along with leader of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority Raul Lambino, and the province's governor Manuel Mamba. The cars are reportedly part of the second batch to be officially destroyed in recent times.
In a speech prior to crushing the vehicles, Duterte said: "Breaking up the contraband vehicles is the proof that these operations will not be allowed here in Cagayan."
Reader Comments
Yeah the whole thing is a puzzler isn't it? The best I've been able to come to grips with it is to first accept I don't know nearly as much about what Duterte is doing as he himself does. Also, expecting a single article to divulge more truth than opinion is way too optimistic for me.
When I saw the picture I immediately thought the cars were associated with some kind of drug dealers (as opposed to being illegal simple because they were imported as the article implies). And so maybe these cars are primarily from the earnings of crime - and perhaps Duterte is simply putting a full stop to this material wealth from ever being passed on.
I mean, even if the cars were craftily converted to govt. funds then even that could (and likely would) be corrupted to somehow benefit, and come to be controlled by, the crime bosses. -- Trashing the cars stops at least that one corrupt flow of money.
Dunno how likely all that is, but at least it presents the possibility that Duterte is working to do some real good. Sometimes Duterte reminds me of the back-handed way Trump gets results even when it looks like he's being a bad actor.