Duterte remains in support of Faeldon

President Rodrigo Duterte (File photo by BULLIT MARQUEZ / AP)

President Rodrigo Duterte stands by former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon following the corruption allegations hurled against the outgoing Customs chief.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday claimed that Faeldon received P100 million as “welcome gift” right after assuming his position at the BOC.

READ: Lacson: BOC collects up to P71,700 tara for each shipment smuggled in PH

Faeldon, who has denied the allegation, is under fire due to the P6.4-billion worth of smuggled drugs from China.

Faeldon hit back at Lacson on Thursday, saying the senator’s son, Panfilo “Pampi” Lacson Jr., has been smuggling billions-worth of cement in the country.

Duterte, who has repeatedly said that Faeldon was an “honest” man, again defended the former Customs official in a speech before government troops in Marawi City on Thursday.

“But I still believe that Faeldon is honest. I have known the guy, at tanungin mo siya. Ang unang pumunta sa akin three years ago, hindi ko lang sabihin ‘yung hindi na kilala, pumunta sa Davao, pati si Faeldon ang unang nag-kumbinse sa akin ‘yan. ‘Tumakbo ka, mayor’ (Ask him. He was one of the people who approached me three years ago, I will not mention the other who is not that prominent, in Davao, Faeldon convinced me. He told me to run),” he said.

Malacañang on Thursday said the corruption allegations against Faeldon and Lacson’s son should both be investigated.

READ: Corruption claims vs. Faeldon, Lacson Jr. should be investigated—Palace

Duterte on Monday night said he has appointed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Isidro Lapeña to replace Faeldon at the Customs.  JPV