Faeldon on attending congressional probe: I’d rather go to jail

Former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on Friday said he would rather face imprisonment than attend any congressional inquiry into the illegal entry of P6.4 billion worth of shabu to the country.

Interviewed on ANC, Faeldon accused the lawmakers conducting the investigation, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, of using the issue for "grandstanding" to the point of "neglecting" the rights of the resource persons.

"Yes, they can [cite me in contempt], that is their prerogative. I'd rather go to jail than [go] there," Faeldon said.

"We are supposed to be the resource persons, the presumption of our innocence is a guarantee under the Bill of Rights. Basta sasabihin na lang nagbulsa kami ng pera at tumatanggap ng tara. You know when you are a senator at least 12 million believe you, so they will believe now that Nicanor Faeldon has pocketed money even before he assumed office," he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, in a privilege speech last week, accused Faeldon of receiving a P100-million payoff as a welcome gift shortly after he assumed the BOC post in 2016. Faeldon denied this, although he said the damage caused by the accusation has been done.

"Bahala na lang kami kung paano namin ibabangon yung pagkatao namin na nasira," he said.

Meanwhile, Faeldon said he has yet to receive a subpoena from the Senate summoning him to attend its next hearing on the shabu shipment. He emphasized that he will not attend the hearing, saying there should be limitations on the queries of lawmakers.

"As early as few days ago, I already questioned the constitutionality of some of their conduct. You know, it's very clear that we have guaranteed rights, but several of the victims have already been maligned or destroyed. These are innocent people. I'm one of the victims," Faeldon said.  —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK/KVD, GMA News