Lacson to Duterte: What’s with Faeldon?

MANILA, Philippines - He may have already said a mouthful about corruption in the Bureau of Customs (BOC), but Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he is not done yet.

Lacson said he continues to receive information from various sources about the goings on within the BOC and based on this, he would try to find out why former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon remains in President Duterte’s good graces despite his alleged links to corruption in the bureau.

Just the other day, the President once again vouched for Faeldon’s integrity even after accepting the latter’s resignation.

The President had said Faeldon was among those who convinced him to run for higher office.

Lacson said the President must have a deep personal relationship with Faeldon that he chooses to shrug off allegations of corruption against the former BOC chief.

“That’s between the two of them. I will not force him to believe,” Lacson said.

The senator said he finds it puzzling that the President, who is so angry about the illegal drug trade and corruption, remains silent about BOC’s alleged role in the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country.

Drugs and corruption – both reportedly present at the BOC – are Duterte’s avowed pet peeves.

The BOC, under Faeldon, came under fire for allowing the entry of over P6 billion worth of shabu from China. Senators believe the contraband was just one of many shipments of the illegal drug that had managed to enter the country due to corruption at the Customs.

In a privilege speech delivered earlier this week, Lacson revealed that corruption in the BOC is rampant and involves almost every official and employee, from the commissioner down to the rank and file.

Interviewed over radio dwIZ yesterday, Lacson said that he is trying to find out why the President is bent on defending Faeldon in spite of allegations of corruption that have already come out against him.

“That is one of the things I’m trying to find out based on the information I have been receiving,” Lacson said.

Lacson noted that his exposé against Faeldon and the BOC in general was carefully vetted, using information coming from various sources, including people inside the BOC who belong to the top levels, middle management, rank and file, brokers and players.

He said he checked all the information sent to him, carefully examined them and determined that the information on people as well as on the system were consistent.

In the case of Faeldon, Lacson admitted that he initially did not want to believe his involvement in corruption because he had known the former Marine official as reform-minded and honest.

However, he said that Faeldon’s name just kept coming up in the reports he received, so he felt it right to include him in his exposé.

Lacson said he conducted background checks on some of the people involved, particularly those who he knew personally, as part of his verification process.

He sought the help of the intelligence people at the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct a lifestyle check on one of the persons in his list as he wanted to give that individual the benefit of the doubt.

The feedback he received showed that the said individual lived a rather lavish lifestyle; betting heavily in cockfights, owning cock farms and even a mansion.

In the case of an alleged bagman of Faeldon, Lacson pointed out that the person owns a hotel and is currently developing another one.

Faeldon has denied the allegations of Lacson and responded with his own claim that the senator’s son and namesake, Panfilo “Pampi” Lacson Jr., was involved in the smuggling of cement.

He said the senator could be using the company of his son as a front for smuggling cement into the country.

Lacson said that he has no intention to engage Faeldon in a public relations war because unlike the latter, he does not have the funds to hire PR people.

He said that Faeldon has hired the services of two PR men to go on an offensive against him.

Lacson said he has chosen to just stick to answering the facts presented rather than go against Faeldon on a personal level.

Meanwhile, sources in Davao City said a new government job awaits Faeldon as he prepares to officially leave the BOC on Tuesday.

Faeldon reportedly met with President Duterte Thursday in Davao City where the Chief Executive usually spends his weekends.

“A new job has already been offered to Faeldon and discussed during his recent meeting with the President,” a source told The STAR.

However, the same source said the President himself would have to announce Faeldon’s new appointment as it is still being kept under wraps.

Faeldon’s new job reportedly requires him to be working close to the Office of the President.

“It only shows that Faeldon still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” the source added.

Duterte has repeatedly expressed his trust in Faeldon despite Lacson’s accusations.

“But I still believe that Faeldon is honest. I have known the guy,” Duterte told soldiers in Marawi during a visit Thursday. Incoming BOC chief Isidro Lapeña is set to take his oath on Tuesday.

Lapeña will be replaced as Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief by Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, who retires from the service as Central Luzon Police Regional Office head on Sept. 6.