Faeldon denies receiving P100-M ‘welcome gift’ from smugglers

FILE PHOTO/ Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon. (Photo by Presidential Communications Operations Office )

MANILA  — Outgoing Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon denied Senator Panfilo Lacson’s claim that he allegedly received PHP100 million as a ‘welcome gift’ from smugglers right after assuming as the commission’s head.

“I have not asked anybody to collect tara for me nor have I accepted any tara from anybody,” Faeldon said in statement issued an hour after Lacson delivered his privilege speech Wednesday afternoon.

In his speech, Lacson tagged Faeldon and other BOC officials as among those who allegedly received “payola” from smugglers.

“Again, I have not done any form of corruption in my many years of government service nor tolerated those who tried even in the form of request. No is no,” Faledon added.

With this, Faeldon has requested for a third party investigation on the matter.

“The country will appreciate if a third party investigation by a competent body will be conducted so that justice will be served. Just like the Honorable Senator Lacson and the Filipino people, I want the truth to come out,” he stressed.

On Monday, the President announced that he had accepted Faeldon’s resignation.

The President then announced that Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Dir.

Gen. Isidro Lapeña will replace Faeldon as BOC chief.  (PNA)