Sen. Leila M. de Lima's statement on DOJ Resolution absolving Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and other BOC officials in the P6.4 billion shabu-smuggling case

11/24/17

I have yet to see the DOJ Resolution absolving BOC officials, as led by former Comm. Nicanor Faeldon, and the Davao Group in the 6.4 billion shabu-smuggling case.

This resolution deserves closer scrutiny, in order to shed light on the question of why no public officials were held accountable despite the testimonies presented in the Senate.

Did the PDEA intentionally file a weak complaint versus Faeldon et. al, or is this another case of whitewashing by the DOJ similar to the downgrading of murder charges against PNP officer Marvin Marcos? The latter case has shown us how a public announcement of Duterte pre-judging the culpability of his officials has dictated DOJ action in absolving said public officials.

Faeldon must not be allowed to get off the hook so easily, considering the revelations he made in the Senate investigation about politicians asking for favors on behalf of importers or smugglers, not to mention evidence pointing to the lobbying of presidential son Paulo and son-in-law and the Davao Group with Faeldon's own office in order to facilitate shipments endorsed by the Davao Group.

Faeldon must come clean on this, and so must Paolo and Mans Carpio. Otherwise, this will justify Sen. Kiko Pangilinan's observation, shared by others, that Duterte's drug war is fake, that while petty drug suspects are shot down like dogs, his son, son-in-law, and favored officials are treated like sacred cows. This only fuels the speculation that Duterte is not after drug lords or drug smuggling, but instead is after monopolizing the drug trade, either by himself or people close to him.