Faeldon offers to take leave of absence following son's arrest

Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon has offered to take a leave of absence after the arrest of his son in a police raid on a suspected drug den in Naga City on Friday morning.

Earlier, Faeldon said he will resign from his post if his son, Nicanor Jr., will be proven having links in the illegal drugs trade.

"He has likewise offered to go on leave while the matter is under investigation," said Undersecretary Mark Perete, spokesperson for the Department of Justice.

However, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he advised Faeldon against doing so.

"I told him that until and unless a reasonable ground to believe that his son is involved in drug use has been shown, I see no reason why chief Faeldon should go on leave," the Justice chief said.

In studying Faeldon's offer, Perete said the DOJ will have to consider that the BuCor chief was just recently appointed and that "the independence and integrity of the investigation on the matter is not likely to be affected by his stay in the BuCor."

Apart from vowing to resign and offering to go on leave, Faeldon also swore he would kill his son Nicanor Jr., 31, if proven engaged in drug abuse.

Nicanor Jr. was purportedly staying at his girlfriend's house that was raided by Naga City police early Friday morning.

He will face charges for being an employee or visitor of a drug den, as provided for in the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The offense is punishable by 12 to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of between P100,000 and P500,000. —LBG, GMA News