Senators question Faeldon’s allegations vs Lacson

MANILA —Three senators on Thursday questioned the timing of former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon’s allegations versus their colleague, Senator Panfilo Lacson and his son, calling it “an act of desperation.”

Faeldon alleged that Lacson’s son and namesake Panfilo Lacson Jr. was involved in smuggling billions worth of cement.

His accusation came a day after Lacson delivered a privilege speech in the Senate exposing the former Commissioner as allegedly among the BOC officials who were recipients of millions worth of bribes.

“Bakit ngayon lang, 24 hours after Senator Lacson’s expose? (Why just now, 24 hours after Senator Lacson’s expose). An act of desperation on the part of Faeldon,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said in a statement.

Drilon said that he had “full faith” in the uprightness of Lacson and his family and would oppose any investigation on Faeldon’s allegations describing it as “a waste of time.”

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said that it was important to determine that Faeldon,’s allegations were not to merely distract media from the allegations against him.

“Bakit ngayon lang bibira pagkatapos siyang birahin ni Senator Lacson? We have to make sure that this is not panglihis lang ng isyu (Why did he expose this issue only after Senator Lacson exposed an issue concerning him? We have to make sure that this is not a diversionary tactic),” Pimentel said.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, for his part, said that he thinks Faeldon fired back at Lacson for exposing “something close to the truth.”

Aquino, meanwhile, expressed confidence that Lacson will be able to defend himself and be “very transparent” about the issue if it should be tackled in a hearing. (PNA)