(Eagle News) – Former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon has now been detained indefinitely at the Senate premises.
This was after he showed up at the Senate on Monday (Sept. 11), but still refused to attend senate hearing on the alleged smuggling activities at the Bureau of Customs which he once headed.
“He’s a soldier. He knows there is such a thing as temporary incarceration,” said Senator Richard Gordon who had earlier asked the issuance of an arrest warrant against Faeldon after he was cited in contempt for failing to show up in previous Senate hearings on the issue.
Gordon said that Faeldon “did not defy the Senate” but that he explained his position that he would not attend Senate hearings and answer allegations concerning him as long as Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Panfilo Lacson Jr., are in attendance.
“That’s why we already declared him in contempt,” said Gordon who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Gordon told reporters that Faeldon was “very respectful” when he talked to him in a closed-door meeting on Monday.
Faeldon allegedly said: “I respect the senate, except the two (senators).”
The two senators whom Faeldon was referring to were apparently Trillanes and Lacson.
Lacson had earlier tagged Faeldon as one of those allegedly benefitting from the corruption at the BOC and had received a “pasalubong” (welcome gift) of P100 million from alleged smugglers.
Faeldon had earlier denied this allegation, and refused to attend senate hearings afterwards.
Last Friday, the former customs chief promised to turn himself in at the Senate today when confronted by arresting officers sent by the Senate in his home in Taytay, Rizal. (Eagle News Service)