Ombudsman to start probe on Faeldon over shabu smuggling
The Office of the Ombudsman is all set to start the preliminary investigation against former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and several others due to alleged involvement in the smuggling of 602.2 kilograms of high-grade methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth P6.4 billion.
This, after the Special Panel of FactFinding Investigators completed its factfinding investigation and recommended that Faeldon face charges for violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, together with Import Assessment Service (IAS) Director Milo Maestrecampo, Risk Management Office (RMO) Chief Larribert Hilario, and Accounts Management Office (AMO) Chief Mary Grace TecsonMalabed.
It was also recommended that Faeldon be slapped with an additional violation of Section 3(a) of R.A No. 3019 together with BOC Director Neil Anthony Estrella, as well as usurpation of official functions or Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 32 of R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The panel also wants administrative charges of Grave Misconduct filed against Faeldon and other BOC officials such as Joel Pinawin and Oliver Valiente.
Meanwhile, Tecson-Malabed and Maestrecampo will be slapped with Gross Neglect of Duty and Grave Misconduct.
The criminal and administrative charges will undergo preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication, respectively.
Meanwhile, the complaints filed against former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Atty. Manases "Mans" Carpio were dismissed for lack of basis.
On May 26, 2017, joint operatives from the BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigative Services, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a raid on a warehouse owned by the Philippine Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies, Inc. in Valenzuela City.
The raid involved the controlled delivery of a shipment declared to contain printing cylinders.
Ombudsman field investigators said that "the BOC later discovered and seized the shabu," noting that "the manner through which the discovery and seizure were made leaves much to be desired."
"Evidence suggests that numerous laws and administrative issuances pertaining to the proper search, seizure, handling and controlled delivery of drugs were violated by the public officers," investigators said.
Given her connection with Carpio, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales took no part in the fact-finding investigation. Carpio is the nephew of Morales and the son-in-law of President Rodrigo Duterte.