By: Genalyn D. Kabiling, Betheena Kae Unite
President Duterte has asked former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon to take a rest for a while before discussing his next plans for the embattled official.
“I told him to take a few days off. We will talk about his – talk about everything after that. Magpahinga ka na lang muna ,” the President said in a media interview during the National Heroes Day commemoration in Taguig City.
The President reportedly met with Faeldon last week days after accepting his resignation from the customs bureau amid the drug smuggling controversy. Faeldon, a former military official, has been replaced by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chair Isidro Lapeña.
Duterte has stood firmly behind Faeldon, and even disclosed plans to appoint him to another government post due to his integrity and efficiency.
Duterte, in his remarks on Monday, explained that he actually wanted to wait for the results of the congressional probe into the shabu shipment that slipped past the BoC before deciding on Faeldon’s fate.
But he said Faedlon wrote him thrice offering his resignation to spare him from any more trouble so he eventually decided to let him go.
“The reason why it took me time, because Congress was investigating or still investigating it. So, gusto ko naman sanang hintayin na matapos para respeto rin sa tao. Pero, inuunahan man nila,” he said.