MANILA, Philippines – Recently resigned Bureau of Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon has denied Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s allegation that he had benefitted from huge bribes given regularly by importers for the easy release of their shipments.
“I have not asked anybody to collect tara for me nor have I accepted any tara from anybody,” he said in a statement issued Wednesday, August 23.
“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,” added Faeldon, a former Marines officer, who joined the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny in Makati City against the Arroyo administration.
Amid Lacson’s claims that he was “eaten by systemic corruption” at the bureau and even received a “welcome pasalubong” of P100 million when he began leading the BOC in May 2016, Faeldon called for an independent inquiry into the senator’s claims so he could have the chance to clear his name.
“The country will appreciate if a third party investigation by a competent body will be conducted so that justice will be served,” said the former BOC commissioner.
“Just like the Honorable Senator Lacson and the Filipino people, I want the truth to come out,” added Faeldon.
Click and watch the video report by News5’s Mae Ann Los Baños below:
