Infamous Discaya Rolls-Royce Cullinan Auctioned Off by Bureau of Customs for P29 Million
The controversial 2013 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, once owned by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, has been sold to a new owner following a public auction conducted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC). The luxury vehicle fetched a final price of P29,026,000 during the auction held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, slightly exceeding the set floor price of P29,025,132.58.
New Owner Aims to Preserve Vehicle as Historical Artifact
The winning bidder was Pio Velasco, founder and owner of the Igorot Stone Kingdom in Baguio City, a cultural theme park that honors the heritage of the Cordillera region. In a statement to reporters, Velasco explained his motivation for purchasing the car, emphasizing its historical significance in exposing widespread corruption.
"Our first purpose is to save it from eventual destruction, if ever, and to preserve a piece of history. This car is historical because it opened the floodgates, the interest of the nation, to this rampant corruption," Velasco said. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, one of the world's most luxurious sport utility vehicles (SUVs), was among several high-end cars seized by the BOC from the Discaya couple amid controversies surrounding flood control projects.
Additional Discaya Vehicles Auctioned in Recent Months
This auction is part of a series of sales involving vehicles confiscated from the Discayas. On November 20, three of their vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz G500 (2019) Brabus, a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG (2022), and a Lincoln Navigator (2022)—were sold for a total of P38.2 million. In December, their Toyota Tundra 2022 was purchased for P3,480,000, while the Toyota Sequoia 2023 sold for P6 million, with floor prices set at P3,473,253.97 and P4,669,554.50, respectively.
Nine other luxury vehicles, seven of which were also from the Discayas, were included in the recent auction but were declared as "failed bidding" due to lack of successful bids. The BOC had previously expressed expectations to collect a total amount of P103,865,125.97 from auctioning all vehicles seized from the Discayas, with proceeds directed to the national treasury.
Background on Discaya Contractors and Government Projects
Curlee and Sarah Discaya own two of the 15 construction companies that secured the largest number of flood control projects from the government between 2022 and 2025. Over the past three years, their companies have obtained contracts worth approximately P31 billion for government infrastructure projects, including flood mitigation initiatives. The sale of their assets, such as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, marks a significant step in the BOC's efforts to address corruption and recover funds for public use.
