“Yes. Now,” this was how President Rodrigo Duterte answered the press’s direct question whether he was firing Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon amidst the controversies regarding the possible release of ex-mayor Antonio Sanchez.
Duterte had told reporters in the Palace that he “is demanding the resignation of Faeldon immediately” on Wednesday, September 4.
“Sabi niya (Faeldon said) he was placing his destiny sa kamay ko (on my hands). Now here’s the time [for him to resign],” Duterte said.
“With Faeldon out, I am ordering all that has opportunity in BuCor to report to me and the Secretary of Justice. In the meantime, I will not suspend them they will be investigated by the Ombudsman,” he added.
The media asked the Chief Executive to clarify his statement, to which Duterte said that he was indeed firing the former commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Duterte stressed that Faeldon disobeyed his order.
“He should have echoed my orders to him. No releases,” he said.
He also elaborated that instead of issuing a statement regarding Sanchez’s good conduct time allowance (GCTA) computation which can grant the latter an early release, Faeldon should have waited for the “further notice of higher authority.”
“Higher authority could only mean (Salvador) Medialdea, (Menardo) Guevarra, or ako (me),” Duterte said.
According to the Chief Executive, he wanted to “extinguish the fire” which refers to the doubts of the people. That was why he wanted to investigate first, but Faeldon did otherwise.
The President was also asked if he has plans to transfer Faeldon as a head of another government body. It can be recalled that as a former BOC commissioner, Faeldon was also in hot waters regarding the billions worth of shabu that slipped passed his agency then, but Duterte assigned him to head the BuCor next after quitting from BOC.
Duterte simply answered with a joke because “the question is a joke.”
In a senate hearing on Tuesday, Faeldon admitted that he signed a release order that supposed began the processing of Sanchez’s early release.
Several senators called for his resignation or leave of absence after the statement.
As of writing, the President has yet to name a replacement.
In a text message to ABS-CBN news as reported on television, Faeldon said that he is a soldier so he would follow orders.