Senate resumes probe on BoC, drug shipment

THE SENATE blue ribbon committee resumes its hearing today, Sept. 11, on the P6.4-billion drug shipment from China and alleged systematic bribery at the Bureau of Customs (BoC), with resource persons seen to bring focus back on the probe’s main issues.

In last week’s hearing, Davao City Vice-Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, along with his brother-in-law, lawyer Manases R. Carpio — who were both mentioned in previous hearings as possibly involved in a supposed “Davao Group” that is into the illegal drug trade — appeared before the committee. The discussion veered towards other matters as Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV accused Mr. Duterte, son of the President, of being a member of a Chinese triad based on a tattoo on his back and his bank accounts.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, blue ribbon chair, said in a telephone interview with BusinessWorld on Friday that they will question today, the 8th in the series of hearings, other resource persons as former BoC commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon has expressed refusal to participate in the proceedings.

Among the resource persons who are expected to be questioned today are Col. Allen A. Capuyan, who was mentioned by broker Mark Ruben Taguba II as being part of the Davao Group, and the alleged bag man, lawyer Christopher Bolastig, who has already submitted an affidavit to the committee, according to Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Faeldon, who has been slapped with contempt by the committee, said on Friday that he will appear at the Senate today to surrender but will not take part in the probe again, citing the impartiality of “certain lawmakers.”

In a separate telephone interview with reporters on Friday, Mr. Gordon said he is still ready to give Mr. Faeldon a chance to clear his name. If the former BoC chief declines, he would be put in detention either at the Senate or another facility.

Meanwhile, in a separate radio interview, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said that he plans to ask the BoC officials the origin of the systematic corruption at the bureau.

Mr. Lacson said his intention is to bring the hearing to its “logical conclusion, which is the Ombudsman.”—