The son of Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon and three others were arrested by the police and military in a suspected drug den in Naga City Friday morning.
Senior Supt. Felix Servita, Naga police chief, said Nicanor Faeldon Jr., 32, of Taytay, Rizal, was apprehended along with Russel Lanuzo, alias “Bubbles,” 47, the subject of the operation; Allan Valdez, 44; and Manuel Nebres, 39.
The Naga police Drug Enforcement Unit, Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Philippine Army implemented a search warrant at Lanuzo’s house on San Miguel St., Barangay Mabolo at around 5 a.m.
The search warrant was issued by Judge Timoteo Panga Jr. of Iriga City Regional Trial Court Branch 60 for violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Prior to the suspects’ arrest, Servita said they received intelligence information that Lanuzo has been maintaining an alleged drug den in his house.
During the raid, the lawmen found Faeldon Jr. and the three other suspects inside the house. Discovered in the place were seven heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu.
Supt. Errol Garchitorena, intelligence section chief of the Naga City police, confirmed that Faeldon Jr. is the eldest son of the BuCor chief.
He said that the younger Faeldon showed his postal ID indicating he is a resident of Cubao, Quezon City. He is presently residing in the house of the father of his girlfriend, Zandra Mae Lanuzo, in Naga City.
Faeldon Jr. said he has no knowledge that the father of his girlfriend is the target of the drug raid. He added that he has no knowledge of any illegal drug activities in the area.
He told police that he is only living in Lanuzo’s house with his girlfriend since they are both studying in Naga City.
Servita said Faeldon Jr. and the three others were still subjected to a drug test.
Although the suspects were not caught in the act of using illegal drugs, Servita said that the BuCor chief’s son could still be charged for violating Section 7 (visiting a drug den) of RA 9165.
If proven guilty, Faeldon Jr. could face imprisonment ranging from 12 years and one day to 20 years and a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000.
The suspects were brought to Naga City Police Office detention cell.
Faeldon’s legal counsel and spokesperson Jose Dino Jr. said the BuCor chief lauded the police in their relentless anti-illegal drug operations and vowed not to tolerate this wrongdoing even if it was committed by his son.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday turned down the offer of Faeldon Sr. to go on leave over the arrest of his son.
“I told him that until and unless a reasonable ground to believe that his son is involved in drug use has been shown, I see no reason why Chief Faeldon should go on leave,” Guevarra said following Faeldon’s offer to go on leave while his son is being investigated over alleged involvement in illegal drug activities. Faeldon has also offered to resign should his son be found involved in illegal drugs.
The elder Faeldon was embroiled in a huge controversy following the discovery of P6.4 billion worth of shabu in a warehouse in Valenzuela City on May 26, 2017 when he was still the chief of the Bureau of Customs.
He resigned from the BoC and was later appointed by President Duterte as deputy administrator for operations of the Office of the Civil Defense and BuCor chief. (with reports from Niño N. Luces and Ruel Saldico)