Alejano on Faeldon: ‘Pinahirapan kami dahil sa kanya’

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Tuesday disclosed that there is more to Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon's admission that he was never a part of the Magdalo group, than meets the eye.

At a press conference, Alejano confirmed that Faeldon has no longer been a part of the Magdalo group since 2005, after he escaped from detention on charges of  participating in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny.

"Let us put on record that Commissioner Faeldon is [no longer] part of the Magdalo group. He has been removed from the group since 2005 when he escaped from prison," he said.

Faeldon's escape began the rift between him and the Magdalo, Alejano said, "because he promised he would not escape and put the careers of our custodians in danger."

"Kaya nung tumakas siya, kinulong yung ibang gwardiya doon. In fact, may gusto pang magpakamatay doon dahil sa sama ng loob na mga gwardiya," Alejano said.

"Ang effect din sa amin, para kaming [nag-]traydor sa kanila. Nabartolina kami doon. Dahil tumakas at naisahan ninyo kami, nabartolina kami doon sa kulungan. Tinanggal ang aming electric fan, ang aming mga kutsara. Pinarusahan kami because of him," he added.

Not a Magdalo member

During the August 2 House investigation into the P6.4 billion worth of shabu illegally shipped to the country from China, Faeldon admitted that he was never a member of the Magdalo faction of the military.

"In all my pronouncements since 2003, I have never been a member of the Magdalo and I will never be a member of the Magdalo because I don't want to associate myself with the history of the Magdalo in this country," Faeldon said.

Alejano said the group tried to reconcile with Faeldon.

"Kami naman, hindi naman kami nagtatanim ng galit. So we reconciled, okay na po 'yan," he said.

But in April last year, Alejano said Faeldon came out in the open and "maligned the Magdalo."

"We were surprised, around April or May last year, bigla siyang lumabas. He went out in the open to defend the President and malign the Magdalo," he said.

"Hindi nga ako makapaniwala e. I called our common friends, kasi hindi siya ma-contact e. At first, he denied it. But when I saw the video of his press conference, I confirmed na talagang sinabi niya yun," he added.

Alejano said Faeldon even tried to ask for his help in the Bureau of Customs after the elections.

"Sabi ko, no, I will not, because out of principle. He lambasted us in the last campaign, after that political purpose lang yun?" he said.

"No, wala akong sama ng loob. But the point is, hindi naman pwede yung ganun," he added.

During the August 2 hearing, Customs officials Import Assessment Division Director Milo Maestrecampo and Deputy Commissioner for Management Information System and Technology Group Gerardo Gambala also denied that they are still part of the Magdalo group.

Alejano, Gambala and Maestrecampo are all members of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1995. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is part of that class. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News