UPDATED: Senate issues arrest order vs Faeldon

By Meanne Corvera
Eagle  News Service

The Senate has issued an arrest order against former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon over his repeated refusal to attend Senate blue ribbon committee hearings into corruption in the Bureau of Customs, and into the P6.4-billion drug shipment that slipped through the bureau via express lanes.

Senate Sergeant at Arms Retired General Jose Balajadia confirmed they received the order around 6:30 p.m. yesterday.

But Senate blue ribbon committee chair Richard Gordon clarified  that  Faeldon–who has snubbed the committee hearings three times—would not be arrested if he gave his commitment he would attend the next hearing slated on Monday, Sept. 11.

“…If he does not assure or does not attend, he will be arrested,” Gordon said.

A report however said Faeldon was bent on not attending the next hearing.

The report quoted Faeldon as saying he would need to be dragged to the Senate first.