PAMPANGA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has advised former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to take a few days off and to get married before they discuss the corruption issues hounding the bureau.
“I told him to take a few days off. We will talk about everything after that. Magpahinga ka na lang muna,” Duterte told reporters in Fort Bonifacio Monday when asked whether he would appoint Faeldon to another post.
In a separate interview here, Duterte said he still could not think of a post to offer to Faeldon, who resigned from the Customs bureau while lawmakers are investigating the entry of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in the country.
“Wala pa rin akong naisip (I can’t think of any post). Magbakasyon ka muna. Bakasyon ka muna. Magpakasal ka muna. Hindi natuloy ‘yung last time…Tapos mag-usap tayo uli (Take a vacation first. Get married first. It did not push through last time…Then let’s talk again),” the president said.
Duterte said he does not know if Faeldon is ready to return to government service, adding that the former Customs chief was “downhearted” by recent developments.
Faeldon, a former military officer, has been accused of incompetence and gross negligence for his failure to prevent the entry of the multibillion peso shabu shipment from China.
“I don’t know if he’s (Faeldon) willing to work again or not,” he said.
"The reason why it took me time (to decide on his resignation), because Congress was investigating or still investigating it. I would have wanted to wait out of respect for the man…He (Faeldon) resigned thrice. He offered to resign so I do not have to be burdened with that issue.”
Duterte said Faeldon’s successor, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña, is a “man of integrity” like his other appointees who used to be from the military or the police.
Police Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, the director of the Southern Luzon Police Regional Office, will succeed Lapeña as as PDEA chief.
Duterte still searching for new Social Welfare chief
Duterte said he has yet to appoint a successor for former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, whose appointment was rejected by the powerful Commission on Appointments earlier this month.
He said there had been suspicions that the bulk of the Conditional Cash Transfer fund went to the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the communist rebels, under Taguiwalo’s watch.
Duterte said there were also insinuations that the NPA members had used the money for anti-poverty programs to buy firearms that they can use to expand their membership and to attack government troops.
Taguiwalo is one of Cabinet appointees endorsed by the National Democratic Front, the political arm of the communists.
But Duterte clarified that he never accused the former Social Welfare chief of diverting funds to the NPA.
“I did not say that. I said there are reports. I said ‘I do not need that.’ I know they are from the Left, that’s why I appointed them. But I said I leave it to the others to pass judgment,” the President said.
Duterte said he has instructed government personnel including the military not to discriminate against communist rebels when distributing food.
“If the funds managed by Taguiwalo were for the poor, the NPA also has poor people among its ranks, there are also NPA members who are hungry,” he added.