The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Wednesday it has secured 19 motor vehicles linked to tax cases involving the Discaya group, following their release from Bureau of Customs (BOC) custody.

The BIR, in coordination with the BOC, said 15 vehicles registered under spouses Pacifico F. Discaya II and Cezarah Rowena Discaya were placed under constructive distraint, while four others were subjected to constructive seizure tied to the tax assessment of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corporation.

Constructive distraint and seizure are administrative remedies that allow the government to secure assets while tax investigations and collection proceedings are ongoing.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said the measures were implemented to preserve government claims while ensuring due process. He said the actions were carried out immediately after the vehicles were released, in line with the National Internal Revenue Code.

The bureau thanked the Customs agency for the coordination, saying the operation was conducted with proper documentation, inventory, and acknowledgment procedures.

In 2025, the BIR filed criminal tax complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the Discayas over alleged liabilities exceeding 7.18 billion pesos. It also issued a demand for payment against St. Gerrard Construction for a final deficiency tax liability of more than 998 million pesos.

The BIR said the enforcement action is part of its revenue collection and base protection program aimed at improving compliance and curbing tax evasion.