Trillanes assails Duterte as DOJ clears Faeldon on smuggling of P6.4-B shabu

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV chided on Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the drug charges against former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Chief Nicanor Faeldon.

“Kapag mga mahihirap, patay agad. Pero kapag alagad ni Duterte, abswelto sa kaso,” Trillanes said in a statement issued a day after the DOJ released its decision clearing Faeldon, and other BOC officials from the charges, which stemmed from the P6.4 billion smuggled shabu from China that slipped past the agency’s watch last May.

READ: DOJ clears Faeldon, et al. on smuggling of P6.4-B shabu

“Gaya lang yan ni Supt. Marcos. Ang tanong ngayon, sino na ang responsable sa pagpasok ng P6.4bn shabu, yung security guard ng customs?” the senator added.

Trillanes was referring to Supt. Marvin Marcos, who was linked to the killing of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., of Albuera, Leyte.

The DOJ ruled to downgrade the charges against Marcos from murder to homicide, which is bailable.

READ: PNP chief: Supt. Marvin Marcos up for promotion

“Mr. Duterte, pinagloloko mo ung mga tao,” Trillanes said.

Aside from Faeldon, the DOJ also cleared Director Milo Maestrecampo, Director Neil Estrella, Intelligence Officer Joel Pinawin, Intelligence Officer Oliver Valiente, Atty. Jeleena Magsuci, Atty. Philip Maronilla, Alexandra Ventura, Randolph O. Cabansag, Dennis Maniego, Dennis Cabildo, and John Edillor.

The DOJ cleared them from the charges after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) failed to present additional evidence to support the allegation that they violated the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Meanwhile, the DOJ charged Customs broker Mark Ruben Taguba II and at least nine others for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, also in connection to the highly controversial smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu.

READ: DOJ sues broker Taguba, others in P6.4-B ‘shabu’ smuggling through Customs

/kga