‘Faeldon resignation a ploy to quell public anger over Kian slay’

Resigned Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV described on Tuesday the resignation of outgoing Customs Chief Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon as mere “gimmick” to appease the people’s anger over the killing of a 17-year-old boy in an anti-drug operation.

“Oo naman kasi matagal silang nanahimik, tapos nung pumutok yung kay Kian, naramdaman nila yung galit nung tao so they needed to come up with new gimmicks to appease the people,” Trillanes said in an ambush interview at the Senate, when asked if he thinks President Rodrigo Duterte was pressured to appoint a new Customs chief.

“Kasi lahat ito pa-consuelo de bobo na lang ito eh,” the senator added.

Kian Delos Santos was killed by police during a drug raid in Caloocan last week for allegedly “resisting” arrest. The incident drew flak from the netizens, various politicians, human rights groups and religious groups.

Despite this, Trillanes said Duterte’s move would not assuage the people’s outrage.

“But I don’t think it will assuage the fears of the people, yung outrage mababawasan, hindi. Nagbago na ang pananaw nila sa administrasyong ito,” he said.

On Monday evening, Duterte named Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Isidro Lapeña as the new chief of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in a press conference in Malacañang.

The senator noted that the appointment was a sign of the administration’s “struggle” amid the issues hounding Faeldon.

“Definitely nakita nyo na nag-struggle sila kung anong gagawin nila kay Faeldon. Kasi kung totoong may mali, dapat nung una palang tinanggal. Ngayon bakit mo tatanggalin pagkatapos mong sabihin na wala naman daw mali, honest daw,” Trillanes said.

“So may problema sa kanilang communications plan,” he added.

Trillanes also claimed, meanwhile, that Lapeña’s appointment as new BoC chief would not change the corruption in the embattled agency.

“Si Director Lapeña wala naman siyang extraordinary na ginawa sa PDEA so expect the same sa Customs, walang drastic na mangyayari dyan,” he said when asked if Lapeña would be a better Customs chief.

“The smuggling, the corruption there will continue,” said Trillanes.