Lacson: Faeldon benefited from BoC corruption
RECENTLY RESIGNED Bureau of Customs (BoC) commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon was among the individuals identified by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson on Wednesday as among those benefiting from the systemic corruption at the BoC.
This was in sharp contrast to Mr. Faeldon’s reputed incorruptibility as also emphasized by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In his privilege speech on Wednesday, Aug. 23, Mr. Lacson said Mr. Faeldon “should’ve stood firm” against the socalled “tara” system at the bureau “even if he’s alone,” but “instead of going against the system, siya ang kinain ng sistema [ he was the one eaten by the system].”
According to Mr. Lacson, grease money takers within the BoC are from top to bottom — from the bureau’s highest officials to those guarding the agency’s X-ray machines.
Mr. Lacson said Mr. Faeldon and other alleged beneficiaries of the huge regular grease money at the bureau found it hard to resist corruption because it gave them so much comfort.
“‘Pag nasarapan ka, hahanaphanapin pa ang dagdag-kita,” the senator said. (Once you’ve had a taste of it, you will be looking for that extra income.)
The senator likewise named the following ranking BoC officials as among alleged bribetakers: Deputy commissioners Teddy Raval, Ariel Nepomuceno, Gerardo Gambala, Natalio C. Ecarma III, and Edward Dy Buco; Neil Estrella, head of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service; Larrybert Hilario, head of the BoC Risk Management Office; and Milo Maestrecampo, Import Assessment Service director.
Also included in Mr. Lacson’s tara list are Zsai de Guzman, chief of the Intellectual Property Rights Commission; Joel Pinawin, officer-in-charge of the Intelligence Division; Grace Malabed, acting chief of the Accounts Management Office; and Alvin Embreo, director of the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group’s Legal Service.
Mr. Lacson also named the five big players allegedly pulling the strings at the BoC and how many containers they facilitate to bring out of the agency daily using taras.
1. David Tan – 100 to 110 containers
2. Manny Santos – 80 to 100 containers
3. Davao Group – 80 to 100 containers
4. Teves Group – 80 to 100 containers
5. Kimberly – 50 to 80 containers
He also listed the offices within the agency allegedly receiving grease money per container at the Central Office of the BoC as well as the personnel of the MICP and the POM.
· Office of the Commissioner – 5,000 to 10,000
· Command Center – P5,000 to P10,000
· Assessment, Operations and Coordinating Group – P1,000 to P3,000 — interaksyon.com