Nick dares Dick: Kick me some more | Inquirer News

Nick dares Dick: Kick me some more

By: - Reporter / @mj_uyINQ
/ 07:03 AM January 06, 2018

nicanor faeldon

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ Grig C. Montegrande

Former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon, who has been detained in the Senate since September, accused Sen. Richard Gordon of imposing on him “cruel, degrading, and (in)human punishment,” saying the senator had barred him from visiting his family during the holidays, prevented him from seeing his doctor, and stopped him from observing religious practices.

In a statement on Friday, Faeldon also bemoaned Gordon’s disapproval of his request for a four-hour furlough so he could take his oath as deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense before Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the latter’s office.

Article continues after this advertisement

Faeldon said the chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee had also deprived him of his right to be present at the birth of his youngest child.

FEATURED STORIES

The senator, Faeldon claimed, had also warned that his visitation rights as well as the utilities in his detention room would be cut off should he come out with his statement.

He dared the lawmaker to “go ahead, Senator Gordon, kick me and punish me some more, if that makes you a bigger man.”

Article continues after this advertisement

P6.4-billion ‘shabu’ shipment

Article continues after this advertisement

In September last year, the Senate ordered Faeldon detained following his refusal to attend the Senate hearing on the P6.4-billion “shabu” (crystal meth) shipment from China that slipped through the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in May.

Article continues after this advertisement

Customs fixer Mark Taguba had linked the so-called Davao Group, including President Duterte’s son, resigned Davao City vice mayor Paolo, to the smuggling.

Gordon on Friday said the Senate turned down Faeldon’s request to leave detention without being escorted by members of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) because the latter’s citation for contempt was still in effect.  The citation was a collegial act that he cannot reverse on his own, he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

“His release without the company of the OSAA would have meant that he was being released from custody, without his having cleansed himself of his contumacious conduct, the very reason he (was) detained,” Gordon said.

He also said a constitutional crisis between the legislative and executive branches was probable had Faeldon’s request been granted.

“Captain Faeldon had been appointed to a position in the executive department. If he (were) allowed to go out and take his oath, nothing can prevent him from hiding behind his appointment and then saying, you cannot detain me anymore as I am now assistant secretary,” Gordon said.

Security reason

Faeldon’s previous requests, which included celebrating his father’s birthday and other family events with relatives, had been accommodated because these were held within Senate premises, thus ensuring his security, the senator added.

For the same security reason, Faeldon’s request to join the Black Nazarene procession on Jan. 9 was turned down, Gordon said.  Instead, the senator said, he had suggested that the latter could attend the noontime Mass held at the Senate from Monday to Thursday.

He had also proposed that Faeldon take his oath within the Senate premises where his safety was guaranteed, Gordon said.

“How could Senator Gordon justify my continuing detention, much less his cruelty?” asked Faeldon.  “I faced the false charges against me, with nothing else than the truth and my clean conscience. I won (my case) at the Department of Justice. I won again at the Ombudsman.”

“I have been reliably informed that Senator Gordon did all of the above upon the orders of the cement-smuggler senator, who (had) vowed vengeance against me for exposing his and his son’s cement smuggling racket,” the former BOC chief said.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

While he did not identify the senator in his statement, Faeldon had accused Sen. Panfilo Lacson and his son of smuggling cement last August.

TAGS: Faledon, Gordon, Lorenzana

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.