Published: 3:57 p.m., Aug. 23, 2017 | Updated: 4:29 p.m., Aug. 23, 2017
Resigned Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon received P100 million as “pasalubong,” or welcome gift, right after assuming his position at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Sen. Panfilo Lacson bared on Wednesday.
“Loud whispers in the four corners of the Bureau of Customs compound tell of a P100-million pasalubong for the newly-installed commissioner,” Lacson said in a privilege speech he delivered on Wednesday.
A quarter of the “pasalubong,” Lacson said, was retained as a finder’s fee by a certain Joel Teves, Faeldon’s alleged middleman.
Faeldon, who was replaced on Monday night by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña, is caught in the middle of the P6.4-billion drug smuggling controversy, the subject of simultaneous investigations of both chambers of Congress.
Lacson said that instead of going against the system, Faeldon was swallowed by the system by “effectively tolerating and even promoting” the impunity of corruption.
“Holy mackerel!” Lacson said. “Welcome pa lang may kita na. It is an outright cash incentive, Mr. President.”
At the end of his speech, Lacson vouched for Lapeña’s integrity and hoped that he would not be swallowed by the BOC system and end up like Faeldon.
“I can only hope and pray na hindi siya kainin ng sistema gaya ng nauna sa kanya,” Lacson said. /atm