Faeldon appointment prerogative of Duterte, who vowed zero tolerance for corruption

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday defended President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to appoint former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to an office at the Department of National Defense, saying that the former military man enjoys the chief executive's trust and confidence.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stressed that Faeldon's appointment as deputy administrator III of the Office of Civil Defense was part of the "exclusive prerogative of the president."

"The President is the appointing authority and Mr. Faeldon, with his new appointment, certainly enjoys the Chief Executive’s trust and confidence," he said.

Roque said that the former Customs chief could work from his detention cell at the Senate where he is detained following his refusal to answer questions about the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, into a warehouse in Valenzuela City in May.

Two senators have already stated that Faeldon's new government post would not free him from Senate detention.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said that Faeldon's new job would have "no effect" on his incarceration which was precipitated after he was cited in contempt by a Senate panel for his refusal to answer questions during its hearings.

“The solution to a problem like contempt is to purge yourself of the contempt. Not a new appointment or position in government,” Pimentel said in a text message on Thursday.

Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, who accused Faeldon of receiving millions of pesos in welcome gift when he became Customs chief last year, said that the Senate could not be directed to release the former military man.

"So, while he can assume his new post at the OCD, he may have to function from the Senate detention facility via remote control, unless his contempt citation is lifted by the Senate acting as a collegial body," the former police chief said.

Faeldon's appointment to another government post came despite Duterte's past avowal that he would not hesitate to fire officials even for a "whiff of corruption."

The president has a mixed record in this promise. Although he has fired officials for allegations of irregularities in their offices, he has also appointed individuals accused of improper activities to key posts in the government.

According to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one reason why Duterte could not let go of Faeldon could be because of the former commissioner's knowledge of the "dark secrets" of the president's family. This, Trillanes said, was the reason why Faeldon was treated by the president as a "sacred cow" in appointing him to a new post.

"Faeldon knows the dark secrets of the Duterte family that's why even if he is grossly incompetent he remains a sacred cow," Trillanes said on Wednesday just after the Palace released Faeldon's appointment letter.