Sen. Leila de Lima
Don’t let former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon off the hook easily.
Sen. Leila de Lima made this call on Friday as she pushed authorities to apply greater scrutiny on a Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution absolving Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials in the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) from China in May.
In a statement, De Lima said Faeldon must not be quickly spared from liability on the shabu shipment in light of revelations he made in the Senate investigation about politicians asking for favors on behalf of importers or smugglers.
“Not to mention evidence pointing to the lobbying of presidential son Paolo and son-in-law, and the Davao Group with Faeldon’s own office in order to facilitate shipments endorsed by the Davao Group,” said De Lima from her detention quarters in Camp Crame.
She said the DOJ’s move to dismiss the drug charges against several BOC officials led by Faeldon deserved “closer scrutiny.