The smuggling issue and corruption in the country’s most corrupt government agency has led two public servant washing dirty linens in public.
On Wednesday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson accused former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon of corruption, naming him among alleged major recipients of tara (grease money) at the bureau.
In a 20-minute privilege speech, Lacson detailed how the P100,00 million “welcome Psalubong” grease money reached the Customs chief when he joined the agency last year.
“Loud whispers in the four corners of the Bureau of Customs compound tell of a P100-million pasalubong to the newly installed commissioner,” Lacson emphasized.
Faeldon, whose resignation was accepted by President Rdrigo Duterte Monday night, denied the allegations saying he nerve accepted “tara”.
During the press conference accused Faeldon turned the table against Lacson’s son Panfilo “Pampi” Jr. of smuggling 67 shiploads of cement via misdeclaration and undervalued shipment via his brokerage “Bonjourno”.
Bonjourno, is reportedly owned by “Pampi” Lacson Jr. which according to Faeldon had only P20,000 in capital but Bonjourno was still able to import the cement in sixty-seven shiploads worth billions of pesos.
On January 21, 2017, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a report stated it found “discrepancies in the records of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) on the volume of cement to be unloaded: 28,000 metric tons or 17,750 bags of cement according to the BI, and only 20,000 metric tons or 11,000 bags of cement according to the BOC.”
The NBI reported the cement was consigned to Bonjourno Trading, which it described as a “Manila-based company with a branch (in) Davao City.”
Faeldon alleged that Pampi owned the undervalued (by at least 50-percent) shipment he and his appointed officers discovered during their first few days in office.
In his press conference, Faeldon kept saying he never asked anybody to collect “Tara” .
Faeldon dared Senator Richard Gordon to investigate his revelations for truth to come out.
Lacson accused Faeldon’s fellow mutineers, Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala, valedictorian of PMA Class 1995; Army Capt. Milo Maestrecampo of corruption when in 2003 they held mutiny against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to decry alleged corruption in government.
Maestrecampo resigned early this month after he was implicated in corrupt practices, even as he denied the allegations.
Faeldon said Lacson “seems to know everything in the BOC,” as Faeldon suspects the father must be aware of his son’s illegal activities.
“Magkano ba ang binayaran niyong taripa? Magkano ba ang binayaran niyo tax? E ang dami niyong sementong dinala sa bayan. Now kung di magtugma yan, by the hundreds of million, smuggler po kayo Sen. Lacson unless sabihin niyo sakin na hindi niyo alam ang activity ni Panfilo Lacson, Jr,” Faeldon revealed.
Addressing himself to Lacson, Faeldon said “Sir. We are getting close to getting you, to exposing you,” Faeldon said. “We will bring you to justice that’s why you want us out.”
In ending his press conference, Faeldon said Lacson should apologize to his men as he vouched for their innocence
Hours after Faeldon held a press conference, Lacson also called the media and said “When I make my expose’, I make sure I am clean.”. -Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
