Customs chief slams circulation of photo

INQUIRER PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon denounced the circulation of a photo on social media that showed him in the company of the owner of the warehouse where P6.4 billion worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) was seized.

In a statement, Faeldon said the photo maliciously implied that it was taken before the raid was conducted by Bureau of Customs operatives on May 26.

“Raw photos of the raid from the Office of the Commissioner indicated that a similar photo was indeed taken on the day Hongfei Logistics warehouse in Valenzuela was raided,” he said.

Faeldon said he reluctantly agreed to the request of Richard Chen, the warehouse owner, to have a photo with him out of courtesy.

“This attempt to link me [to] the apprehended shabu is outrageous. The photos themselves will prove that I met Mr. Chen only on the day of the raid itself,” he said.

“The people behind this malicious attack only proved that I had crossed big names in the illegal drug trade. However, this will not slow down our fight against drugs,” he said. —Tina G. Santos