Ex-Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon, who continuously failed to attend the Senate investigation on the P6.4 billion worth of smuggled drugs in China, said on Friday that he will voluntarily go to jail if they serve an arrest warrant against him.
“I find it very confusing already and contradicting the privilege speeches and what the lawmakers can do on the constitutionally guaranteed rights on an individual,” he said as he explained the reason why he did not attend any of the previous investigations.
Faeldon even questioned the lawmakers regarding the guaranteed rights of an individual, asking, “Paano yung guaranteed rights ng bawat mamamayan? Ito ba ay kayang saklawan ng kanilang (lawmakers) privilege speeches and yung conduct of inquiry?
“So ito ang aking ku-kwestyunin, na ang kapalit nito ay my willingness to go to jail until these issues have been resolved,” he stated.
“Some senators and some congressmen are… malinaw po ito sa kanila – ‘yung bill of rights po natin ay ‘di puwedeng saklawan ng kanilang puwedeng gawin. Pero mayroong mga ibang mukang hindi pa nito naliliwanagan,” he pointed out.
Faeldon stated that he will gladly stay in jail until these issues have been cleared by the competent court, even mentioning the participation of Supreme Court.
“I will gladly stay in jail until this has been cleared by the competent court. Baka Supreme Court gustong linawin ito,” Faeldon added. “Ano ba talaga? Pwede na ba nating burahin ang bill of rights para paburan yung conduct of house inquiries?”
“Okay lang siguro kung ginawa namin ‘yung mga paratang pero kung inosente ka, upakan ka, paano na lang yung kinabukasan mo, yung mga anak mo sa eskwelahan, kinukutya na,” Faeldon said.
It can be remembered that Faeldon decided not to attend the probe, instead, he sent a letter to the committee.
“I continue to have the highest respect for the Senate as an institution but I no longer have faith in the impartiality in some of its members who have lied to malign me and other innocent resource persons,” Faeldon said.
However, he cleared that he’s not defying the institution, instead, this was just his way of protesting against baseless accusations, persecution, and condemnation.
With this, the committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, cited him for contempt and threatened him with arrest if he fail again to appear in the next hearing set on Monday.
Faeldon, however, also confirmed that he will go to the Senate on Monday to get himself arrested, but will not go to the hearing. | Tretch Melarpes – PTV