Kiko tells Palace: Time to show BOC chief Faeldon the door

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday said Malacañang should now “show the door” to Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon amid a clamor from lawmakers for his resignation over the smuggling in of P6.4-billion worth of shabu from China in May.

“After several hearings in both Houses, there is a clamor for the resignation of Faeldon coming from both administration and opposition senators and congressmen. The bipartisan clamor should be enough basis for Malacanang to show the door to the commissioner and a number of his people,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

“Many other appointees have been fired for lesser offenses. We trust that Malacanang will heed the calls and act accordingly,” the senator said.

On Thursday, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon said Faeldon should already consider resigning from his post and “face the music.”

Earlier this month, House committee on dangerous drugs chairman Robert Ace Barbers also called for the resignation of the Customs official for his “ineptitude” in relation to the smuggling in of the shabu in May.

Both the Senate and House panels are conducting separate investigations on the said incident.

Last week, Malacañang said Duterte expressed his “full confidence” in Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon despite the controversy.

Senators who earlier met with the President in Malacañang said Duterte will decide on Faeldon’s fate after both the Senate and House come out with their separate reports on the results of their investigation.

Faeldon has been a no-show at the congressional probes. He is confined at a hospital in Taytay, Rizal after experiencing a heart attack. — MDM/KVD, GMA News