Faeldon son negative for drugs, but still not off the hook

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — He may have tested negative for drug use, but Nicanor Faeldon Jr. is not yet off the hook as he still has to face criminal charges for being found in a drug den in the company of drug users and suspected pushers, police said yesterday. 

“Faeldon tested negative based on the crime laboratory examination. But the other suspects were all positive. All the seven sachets were also confirmed to be shabu,” Chief Inspector Malou Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said.

Found positive for drug use were Russel Lanuzo,47, and Manuel Nebres, 39, of Barangay Mabolo, Naga City and Allan Valdez, 44, of Samapaloc, Manila.

The drug tests were conducted at the Camp General Simeon Ola here.

Faeldon, 32, son and namesake of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief, was arrested along with three others at a suspected drug den here at dawn Friday. 

The elder Faeldon said he is willing to quit government and kill his son if the latter is proven to be a drug user or a drug trader. But he expressed belief his son is not involved in drugs.

The younger Faeldon claimed he was only visiting his girlfriend Sandra, who is a daughter of Lanuzo, the alleged drug den operator. Sandra was not arrested.

Christian Frivaldo, Bicol director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said Faeldon violated Section 7 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for visiting a drug den.

He said the offense is bailable but Faeldon will have to remain in custody of the Naga City police at least until today as courts and other government offices are closed on weekends.

“So Faeldon has to wait until Monday to post bail. Right now he is in the custody of the Naga police,” Frivaldo said.

He added Faeldon is entitled to at least P100,000 bail.

“Faeldon has to explain in court why he was in that place in the company of the suspects who tested positive to using illegal drugs and in possession of confirmed shabu substance,” Frivaldo pointed out.

President Duterte had earlier tagged Naga as a drug hotspot, but this was denied by Vice President Leni Robredo and other local officials.  – Romina Cabrera