Faeldon camp hits ‘same old critics’ amid convicts’ release issue

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon took a swipe on social media at the same old “grudge-bearers” of the controversial appointee who is being asked to resign amid the controversy surrounding the early release of inmates for good behavior.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, Twitter account Team Faeldon (@FaeldonLegal) took a swipe at three unidentified persons for their “wild insinuations of bribery and corruption” against the embattled Bucor chief.

Faeldon’s spokesman, lawyer Jose Diño, Jr. confirmed to INQUIRER.net that he is the one managing the said twitter account.

https://twitter.com/FaeldonLegal/status/1168109680708612096

Without mentioning names, Diño said the “grudge-bearers” are the same people who went after Faeldon over the smuggled shabu scandal at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“One is a protector of his smuggler-son, and who invented accusations of “tara” but who miserably failed to present even a single witness or document during the 13 hearings of the blue ribbon committee,” Diño said.

“Another is an influence peddler who failed in his insistence for then BOC Comm. Faeldon to promote his bata, a corrupt customs officer. The other is a yellow remnant who tried but failed to arm-twist then BOC Commissioner Faeldon to sign a MOA which was disadvantageous to BOC,” he added.

Faeldon served for a little over a year as BOC chief until August 2017 when he resigned after the discovery of  P6.8 billion worth of “shabu” smuggled from China.

The former Marine captain was later appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the Office of Civil Defense.

Faeldon took over the BuCor in November 2018, succeeding former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who held the top post for about six months.

He earlier came under fire following reports that he signed an August 20, 2019 an order to free convicted rapist-murderer Antonio Sanchez, former mayor of Calauan  Laguna, who is serving seven life terms  for the rape and murder of University of the Philippines Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of schoolmate Allan Gomez in 1993.

Faeldon, who faced on Monday a Senate committee hearing on Republic Act No. 10592, the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law, was also criticized for the release of a number of Chinese drug traffickers.

READ: BuCor chief Faeldon shows up at Senate hearing on GCTA law

READ: Pressure mounts on Faeldon over convicts’ early release

Diño, however, insisted that Faeldon did not sign the release order of Sanchez, adding that the BuCor chief “immediately aborted” the rape-murder convict’s early release.

“Did DG (Director-General) Faeldon issue a release order as regards PDL Mayor Sanchez? No, he did not. The Prisons Superintendent is the one who issues a release order,” Diño said.

“DG Faeldon immediately aborted Sanchez’s release by ordering a more thorough review of his GCTA approval,” he added.

Diño admitted that Faeldon signed the release orders of other convicts.

“But so did ALL of his predecessors who, like him, relied on the expert review, validation and processing by an Management, Screening and Evaluation Committee (MSEC) committee, which recommended the GCTA approvals. MSEC members are Bucor career officers and men,” Diño said.

Faeldon’s spokesperson also denied that the BuCor chief received bribes for the release of heinous crimes convicts.

He challenged the accusers to present pieces of evidence before the Office of the Ombudsman for proper investigation. /gsg