Duterte stands by 'really honest' Faeldon

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday stood by his embattled Customs chief, Nicanor Faeldon, who is currently under fire following the discovery that P6.4-billion in illegal drugs passed through the agency’s checks.

Duterte also blasted corrupt officials and even those he labeled the “ruling elite” for allegedly benefiting from irregular deals and transactions in the government.

“But Faeldon, I will stand by him. He’s really honest,” the president said during the anniversary of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, an anti-crime group supportive of Duterte.

Duterte also defended Faeldon from criticisms that he allowed or was hapless in the entry of P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China. The illegal drugs were later recovered in a warehouse in Valenzuela City in a Customs-led operation widely-criticized for the alleged irregularities surrounding it.

This operation is now the subject of congressional investigations.

“Kaya lang nalusutan siya because lahat dyan sa Customs corrupt. I hope that I would not offend any particular person, but almost all,” he said.

Faeldon and other senior figures at Customs are under intense criticisms especially from lawmakers following the illegal shipment’s entry into the country.

Faeldon admits Customs still has corruption

At a Senate panel investigation on Tuesday, the Customs chief admitted that there was still corruption in the agency, more than a year after he was appointed by Duterte who promised during the 2016 elections sweeping changes aimed at eradicating crime and graft in the Philippines.

Faeldon reasoned that it had been difficult for him to eradicate irregularities in the body as the personnel he needed were appointed only in December and January.

Faledon, who at times was emotional and teary eyed during the hearing, said that he could not deputize some Customs officials to help in the fight against corruption as they themselves were suspected of being involved in irregularities.

He said.: “Here comes a new commissioner who has no teammate with him for six months, how can he investigate this? It’s very impossible for me to man the more than 30 collection ports all over the country, and then at the same time conduct an investigation of all this.”

Before today’s reassurance, Duterte has already rejected calls for him to fire Faeldon, saying that he would wait for the results of congressional probes first before making a decision.

Duterte swears at elite

Duterte also did not mince any words against a group of people usually at the receiving end of his diatribe: the country’s elite.

He said in invective-laced remarks that these people had been benefiting from the country through favorable contracts, grants and tax exemptions.

“Sabihin ko harap-harapan, ‘P***** i** kayo. Letse kayo. Kayo yung mga ruling elite na nakikinabang sa p***** i**** gobyernong to,” he said. “Kaya ko kaya kayong babuyin kasi wala kayong isyu sa akin.”

READ: P334 million from 13 donors funded Duterte's presidency

Before today’s reassurance, Duterte has already rejected calls for him to fire Faeldon, saying that he would wait for the results of congressional probes first before making a decision.