Lacson to Duterte: Take ‘drastic action’ vs ‘recycled’ Faeldon

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson urged President Rodrigo Duterte to take drastic action against Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon to prove government’s commitment in eradicating illegal drugs and corruption.

“If the President does not take drastic action on this latest caper of an official who was recycled in spite of questionable actions committed in his previous assignment like the P6.4-billion shabu smuggling that got away under mysterious circumstances,” Lacson said in a statement, reacting on the early release of over 1,000 prisoners convicted of heinous crimes.

“We should start thinking if there is seriousness in this administration’s much touted war against drugs and corruption midway into his six-year term,” he added.

Faeldon was the former head of Bureau of Customs who resigned in the wake of the P6.4 million worth of shabu that slipped through Customs.

READ: Duterte appoints Faeldon as new BuCor chief

Lacson further said that it was ironic that while government spent so much time gathering intelligence and evidence that would lead to the arrest of big-time drug suspects, Faeldon and others would allow the early release of those convicted.

“Here is Faeldon and whoever else was responsible, by the stroke of their pens, would release at least 48 drug convicts out of the 1,914 heinous crime convicts under questionable circumstances,” Lacson said.  /muf