What do countries like Austria, Dubai, Germany, Italy, and Japan, have in common? Apart from being developed nations, their law enforcers are extremely lucky to have supercars as part of the fleet. But there’s no need to be envious as the Philippines is about to join this elite circle with a Ferrari for our own police force.
Peter Seo's appeal to the government regarding his Ferrari 430 Scuderia
That is, if one man’s promise is to be believed. Peter Seo, a self-described car enthusiast, has pledged his Ferrari 430 Scuderia for government use. But there’s a catch: the car in question is already in government custody and is bound for the scrap heap. The Scuderia is lighter and more powerful than the standard 430, with a used example alone fetching up to $275,000 (almost Php 14 million). Assuming he actually spent that much, you can bet that Seo isn’t going to take the news sitting down. In a video uploaded on YouTube, he narrates the sordid events surrounding his car’s predicament.
“Nagsusuporta po ako sa aking mga magulang na mahigit 33 years na naglilingkod dito sa Pilipinas bilang self-supporting missionaries na may mahigit 150 families at 30 scholars na tinutulungan sa ngayon,” he begins.
(I am presently supporting my parents who have been serving over 33 years in the Philippines as self-supporting missionaries, with over 150 families and 30 scholars as beneficiaries)
According to Seo, he saved up for a Ferrari Scuderia and arranged to have it shipped in July 2020 from Korea to Japan, where he alleges that the car was stolen by Filipinos. “Dahil po sa pandemya at may travel ban, ako po ay hindi nakalipad sa Japan. At nung ni-request ko siyang ibalik nung January para maibalik at ma-settle ang balance ng sasakyan, hindi po nila ito ginawa kundi nagpa-delay at eventually nagtago na sila,” he said.
(Because of the pandemic and travel ban, I was unable to fly to Japan. I requested that the car be returned in January so that I can settle the balance, but the parties responsible only resorted to delaying tactics and eventually could no longer be located.)
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia makes for a fast cop car with 503 hp and 471 Nm of torque
Seo adds that he filed a report with the Hyogo police in Japan, eventually finding out through the Bureau of Customs’ Facebook page that his Scuderia was intercepted at Manila’s South Harbor due to misdeclaration. Seo was initially relieved, thinking that he would finally be able to recover his prized possession.
However, that joy was short-lived as he learned that the car is set to be wrecked, as is the government’s current policy regarding smuggled vehicles. He insists that his Scuderia was legally obtained, sent to Japan with all supporting documents as well as a properly declared bill of lading. Seo further says that he also has papers from Korea’s Ministry of Justice and a copy of the police report filed in Hyogo.
”Ako po ay isang biktima ng pagnanakaw at panloloko,” he laments. “Napakasaklap po ang nangyari sa buhay ko dahil halos buong buhay ko po pinag-ipunan at more than isang taon ko po hinahanap.”
(I am a victim of theft and fraud. What happened hurts so much because I spent most of my life saving up for that car, and I had to search for it for more than a year.)
Police officers in developed countries are lucky to have premium brands in the fleet
He personally appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to spare the car. In case he won’t get his purchase back, Seo said he was willing to donate it for use by government agencies such as the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group, where it can be used as a patrol car to chase down well-heeled offenders. “Sana po parusahan niyo na lang ang mga nagnakaw sa akin at nagparating po ng sasakyan dito nang iligal dito sa Pilipinas,” he appealed.
(I ask that those who stole from me and were responsible for bringing the car illegally to the Philippines be punished.)
What do you think? Is it possible to have a Ferrari zooming down our roads chasing after bad guys in the future, once we’ve all gotten over just how incredible this whole story sounds?
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