Faeldon claims he received ‘illegal’ requests from Drilon, Sotto

MANILA, Philippines — Former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on Monday accused Sens. Franklin Drilon and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III of making “illegal” requests when he was still the Bureau of Customs chief.

Faeldon identified Drilon and Sotto when asked by Sen. Bam Aquino to identify politicians who had made improper request during the continuation of the Senate probe into the P6.4-billion shabu shipment.

The former Customs chief said that Drilon had asked him to signed a memorandum of agreement between the agency and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to renovate the Iloilo Customs House into a museum.

Faeldon, now the deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, added that he refused to sign the agreement until he “forcibly changed” the provisions of the document.

“I’m sorry, Sen. Drilon. Wala ka dito but that’s exactly what transpired,” he said.

Faeldon then mentioned Sotto who asked the former BOC chief to appoint Customs official, Eric Albano, as director of intelligence.

“Idol kita, Tito Sen. Pasensya na pero this is illegal as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

Faeldon noted that Albano is unfit for the position.

“You insist on recommending appointments of such officials na kagaya niya. See 42 years wala pa siyang nahuling empleyado ng Customs na involved sa corruption,” he said.

Not illegal, normal

But Aquino and blue ribbon committee chair Sen. Richard Gordon did not see anything wrong with the requests of their colleagues.

“Parang hindi naman po ata ganun illegal na nag-re-recommend ka ng tao at may project ka na gustong matuloy,” Aquino said.

Gordon said that Drilon’s action is “not illegal” and Sotto’s request is “normal.”

“I think Sens. Drilon and Sotto are capable of answering it,” he said.

But Faeldon maintained that such requests demoralize the bureau. 

READ: Faeldon asks Supreme Court to nullify Senate detention order