MANILA, Philippines — Nicanor Faeldon welcomed on Tuesday his replacement as head of the Bureau of Customs, calling it “the best for our country.”
In a brief statement, Faeldon urged “everyone to continue to support the reform agendas and the development programs of the President.”
Monday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency head Isidro Lapeña was replacing Faeldon, who had been in the center of controversy over the smuggling into the country of P6.4 billion worth of crystal meth, or “shabu,” from China under the BOC’s nose.
Duterte has cited the Customs scandal to justify why he cannot fulfill his pledge to stamp out the drug trade in the country. Despite this, he maintained he believed in the honesty of Faeldon, who he earlier said had asked to resign three times.
“I thank everyone who has supported the Bureau of Customs during my stay and I appeal to the BOC employees and to the public to support the new commissioner,” Faeldon said.
Duterte named Central Luzon police director Chief Superintenent Aaron Aquino to replace Lapeña at the PDEA.