Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon (right) addresses questions from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee during the hearing on the P6.4-billion worth of smuggled shabu from China on Monday, July 31, 2017. (FILE PHOTO by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Senators were unimpressed with Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon’s outburst against lawmakers who were pressuring him to appoint and promote certain employees in the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Faeldon, under fire for his handling of a P6.4-billion shipment of “shabu” (crystal meth) that was smuggled into the country, on Wednesday said most of the politicians were engaged in imports or forwarding companies.
Senators Chiz Escudero and Sonny Angara dared Faeldon to identify the lawmakers and officials.
“If indeed it’s corruption, he should name them and file cases against them if he is indeed serious about cleaning up his bureau,” Escudero said in a text message.
Angara said Faeldon should identify the officials seeking illegal favors from him.
“Appointing someone is not necessarily illegal unless the person recommended did something illegal or has such plans,” Angara said. —CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO