Tempest in Customs, troubles for Comelec chairman
As if the Marawi rebellion, North Korean threats, and China's incursions into our exclusive economic zones were not enough, there is this tempest in the Bureau of Customs. Large volumes of shabu were imported and allowed to pass the green lane in Customs, then BOC operatives allegedly mishandled the seizure operations by keeping PDEA uninformed and uninvolved. To exacerbate this grand comedy of errors, the shabu can no longer be used as evidence in court because it was mishandled. And if the seizure was illegal and the evidence compromised, then the shabu became the fruits of a poisonous tree, as we lawyers would call it. It is inadmissible in court.
The best option for Commissioner Faeldon is to resign. He should spare the president from having to defend him or carry him as a burden in the administration. If he has delicadeza, he should offer his head because it is impossible for him to repair the damage to his credibility. Even if he was not involved in the irregularity, then he has shown unforgivable negligence. As a military officer, he should know the meaning of command responsibility. He is the chief of office with full control and supervision over his men who are allegedly mostly Magdalo members. Faeldon should face the music, bite the bullet, and commit ''hara kiri'' and offer to fade away and remove himself from the tempest in his agency.
As for Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista, every time his wife appears on TV and discloses the details of her accusations, more and more people feel betrayed. Talk about betrayal of public trust. Even if Bautista is not impeached and no charges are filed against him, his reputation has already been ruined beyond repair and people are losing confidence in him. How can he not carry Comelec down with him? No matter what kind of legal defense he uses, the damage has been inflicted beyond undoing.
The best option for Bautista is also to tender his irrevocable resignation. Regardless of his wife's motives and intentions, notwithstanding any defense that he might be able to raise, Bautista has been accused, tried by publicity and convicted by many Filipinos in their own biases and prejudices. It is unfair to him, but his wife has already devastated his career and reputation. He has no way to manage and lead an agency like Comelec with a shattered credibility. We are not prejudging either Faeldon or Bautista, but by all appearances they have no more face to lead their respective agencies. Guilty or not guilty, they have to go because too many people believe they no longer deserve to be trusted.
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