Trillanes: Drug lord behind P6.4-B shabu shipment has powerful ‘backer’ in gov’t

Senator Antonio Trillanes on Thursday claimed that information he obtained from “insiders” at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) show that the drug lord behind the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China has a “powerful backer” in government.

In an interview, Trillanes said he intends to grill Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on the information he has when the Senate blue ribbon committee resumes its hearing on the case.

“Di ba itong si [President Rodrigo] Duterte, galit na galit sa droga, di ba kahit sino ang mag-criticize sa kanya, minumura niya pero ito P6 billion na pumasok na shabu. Eh sabi nga ni Cong. Alejano, parang speechless siya,” Trillanes said, referring to Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano’s earlier remark on the matter.

“Itong drug lord, maglalakas loob ba ito na magpasok ng merchandise ng shabu one year into the drug war of a President who kills drug lords supposed to be. Napakalakas naman ng loob nito. Bakit? Kasi malakas yung backer niya. Malakas yung nag-facilitate, sigurado siyang hindi gagalawin,” Trillanes said.

Asked whether Duterte himself is involved in the shipment, Trillanes said: “Not necessarily Duterte himself but probably somebody close to him.”

Trillanes said Duterte cannot let go of Faeldon despite the recent controversy as the Customs official might supposedly squeal on him and his family.

“Alam ni Duterte na mayroong nalalaman itong si Faeldon na pagka-nalaman ng publiko eh madi-dismaya at malalaman nila, mabubuko na talaga kung ano yung tunay na pagkatao nitong pamilya ni Duterte,” he said.

Trillanes’ statement comes a day after Duterte said he would step down if any of his children are found to be involved in corruption.

One of the President’s sons, Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, was mentioned by broker Mark Taguba in one of the recent House hearings on the shabu shipment.

Vice Mayor Duterte had referred to Taguba’s remark as a “lie.”

Faeldon skipped the separate Senate and House of Representatives’ investigations on the shabu shipment after he was confined in a hospital due to chest pains.

Trillanes said Faeldon is only “malingering.”

The shipment in question was seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Valenzuela warehouses days after it was able to pass through the agency’s green lane.

Trillanes said the BOC’s operation was deliberate to earn plus points from the public.

“Nakalusot na ito, labas na ito. Doon na lang nila ito pinuntahan sa warehouse tapos nag-picture taking na lang. Ito, nag-backfire yung papogi nila,” he said. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News