Palace respects Ombudsman recommendation to file case vs Faeldon

Former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Malacañang respects the recommendation of an Ombudsman panel to indict former Bureau of Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon in connection with the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that was smuggled into the country.

“The Palace respects the recent decision of the Ombudsman recommending the filing of charges against former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon et al.,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Wednesday.

The panel said Faeldon, who is now a deputy administrator at the Office of Civil Defense, was found liable for graft, usurpation of official function, and to have violated Section 32 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

“Mr. Faeldon, et al. will now have their day in court where they can defend themselves in the upcoming preliminary investigation in connection with the incident,” Roque said.

The panel, however, cleared former Davao City Vice-Mayor Paolo Duterte and lawyer Manases Carpio from the controversy.

READ: Paolo Duterte cleared in shabu smuggling case