Nicanor Faeldon formally appointed Bureau of Corrections chief

MANILA, Philippines — Former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon may now assume his post as head of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed yesterday that President Duterte has finally signed the appointment paper of Faeldon to replace Ronald dela Rosa, who resigned last month as BuCor chief to run for senator in next year’s elections.

“Nicanor Faeldon’s appointment papers as director general of the BuCor have been signed by the President and ready for release by the executive secretary,” he announced in a text message to reporters.

Guevarra said the formal appointment of Faeldon coincided with the 113th anniversary of the BuCor, an attached agency of the Department of Justice tasked to manage the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City and other penal colonies in the provinces.

Duterte announced the appointment of Faeldon to the BuCor last month, but the former Marine captain was not able to assume his post without the appointment papers.

Faeldon stepped down from the BOC’s top post over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment case that hounded the bureau last year.

Faeldon tendered his resignation thrice before Duterte accepted it. Duterte then re-appointed Faeldon as deputy administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense under the Department of National Defense in December last year or four months after he quit as BOC chief.

The DOJ dismissed the charge of importation of illegal drugs filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency against Faeldon.

However, he is still under investigation by Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding panel on charges of graft, grave misconduct and usurpation of official functions, among others.