Jail or NBP? Faeldon’s fate known today
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will decide on the fate of former Bureau of Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon when the investigation on alleged corruption in the BOC resumes today.
Faeldon has been subpoenaed by the panel, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, to attend the hearing on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China in May last year.
According to sources, Faeldon will be transferred to the Pasay City jail or the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa if he refuses to testify before the committee, citing precedents during previous Senate investigations. Faeldon remains in Senate detention. “The possibility of detaining him in a regular jail is not remote, and that’s not something I like. He simply has to face the committee and we can free him,” Gordon said in a radio interview.
He said Faeldon could invoke his right to remain silent.
Gordon said if Faeldon still refuses to come out of Senate detention, the committee will have to take stronger measures to ensure respect for the chamber.
“We have to protect the Senate. Can you imagine if we invite resource persons and they refuse to come?” Gordon said. “I don’t threaten, I’ll just do it if he does that again and he’s out of bounds.”
The Senate ordered him detained after he refused to face the investigation on the shabu smuggling on Sept. 11 last year.
Faeldon was accused by Sen. Panfilo Lacson of receiving “tara” or bribes in the BOC.
The former Customs chief has denied the allegation and filed an ethics complaint against Lacson.
Faeldon was appointed by President Duterte as deputy administrator for operations of the Office of Civil Defense on Dec. 22.
The Senate granted him furlough on Jan. 12 to take his oath and see his newborn daughter.
Faeldon has filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning his detention at the Senate.
Gordon described Faeldon as “spoiled” after having participated in destabilization attempts against former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo only to be freed later.
“The Senate is spending money on him. His cell is air-conditioned and has no bars. And there’s an ambulance on standby for him,” Gordon said.