Duterte appoints Faeldon to Office of Civil Defense
President Duterte has appointed former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon as Deputy Administrator at the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
In the appointment paper Duterte signed last December 22, Faeldon will replace Rodolfo Demosthenes Santillan.
Faeldon resigned as BOC chief after being linked to the shipment of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in May this year.
Duterte earlier reiterated his trust in Faeldon upon accepting the latter’s resignation.
“From the tone of his resignation, he’s very disappointed but I really believe he is an honest man. The government would need Faeldon,” Duterte said.
Duterte replaced Faeldon with former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Isidro Lapeña III.
Last November, the Department of Justice (DOJ) cleared Faeldon of drug charges over the R6.4-billion drug shipment case, citing PDEA’s failure to state with clarity the acts or omission supposedly committed by Faeldon that would constitute violation of the offense charged.
“The evidence adduced by the PDEA in support of the charges were insufficient to establish probable case,” the DOJ resolution read.
Faeldon’s lawyer Jose Diño had said that the former’s exoneration is the “best vindication” and that it has restored the former Customs Commissioner’s faith in the justice system.
The Senate blue ribbon committee, after conducting an inquiry on the allegations against Faeldon, had recommended the filing of criminal charges against the former Customs chief.
Despite the dismissal of the case, Diño said that Faeldon would not ask the Senate to release him from detention.
Faeldon is still detained at the Senate compound after he was cited for contempt for repeatedly refusing to appear before Senate hearings on the multi-billion shabu shipment and other related issues.