Faeldon asks Duterte to form panel to probe shabu shipment

Customs Commssioner Nicanor Faeldon (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on Monday said he has requested President Duterte to create a committee that would conduct a full-blown investigation on the P6.4-billion worth of smuggled shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

“I have written a letter to the President requesting the creation of a committee or whatever he wants to conduct a full-blown investigation on this case,” Faeldon told reporters in a hastily called press briefing late Monday.

“We want a body to come out with every detail. I want the truth to come out. There should be no stone left unturned,” he added.

Faeldon said he also wrote to the World Customs Organization (WCO) to determine issues on the “risk management system and smuggling.”

Meanwhile, Faeldon said that the reported appearance of suspended BOC risk management officer Larribert Hilario on Tuesday’s hearing at the House of Representatives was a welcome development.

“It’s great if he shows up. We tried to invite him at the Senate hearing. It’s great news if he would testify in tomorrow’s hearing,” Faeldon said.

“I expect him to be telling the whole truth, not just half-truth because half-truth is a lie,” the BOC chief added.

During the Senate’s own inquiry on Monday morning, Faeldon said that “since we suspended him, we cannot contact and locate him.”

Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas earlier said Hilario will appear before the House’s inquiry on Tuesday to drop some bombshells.