Faeldon tells gov’t execs: You can’t lobby for promotions at BOC

Customs Chief Nicanor Faeldon addresses the media. PATHRICIA ROXAS/INQUIRER.net

Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon slammed on Wednesday government officials who wanted to influence promotions at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“They want me to influence the promotion board so that their people here would be promoted. And I tell them right in their face I will never lift a finger to influence promotions here. That is a form of corruption,” said Faeldon.

READ: Faeldon: I wanted to quit

The commissioner also appealed to officials to stop meddling in the bureau’s appointments, citing it as a form of corruption.

“But please I’m appealing to you. You know your request is a form of corruption and you insist and magagalit pa kayo (you will even get mad). My God! Shame on you! This is not your property. This is the Filipinos’ Bureau of Customs so don’t act like you own this,” Faeldon said.

When asked who these government officials were, Faeldon refused to name names.

“Hindi naman ako nagsusumbong eh (I am not complaining publicly). I appeal to them directly. Magalit na sila sa akin pero (They can get mad at me but) as long as I’m here I will continue to say no to them,” he said.

READ: BOC chief not sacking official who called Speaker ‘imbecile’

BOC Chief Executive Assistant Atty. Mandy Mercado Anderson recently got in hot water for calling Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez “imbecile.” She later explained that the official tried to lobby for the promotion of a Customs official whom she deemed unqualified. IDL