(Eagle News) – The ethics complaint filed by controversial former Bureau of Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon against Senator Panfilo Lacson has been “held in abeyance” following his continued stubbornness to defy orders for him to attend senate hearings, which signified “disrespect” for Senate rules.
The Senate ethics committee decided to do this so they can further study Faeldon’s complaints not only against Lacson, but also against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, as senators who are members of the committee observed Faeldon has “no right” to file a complaint if he cannot respect Senate rules in the first place.
It was Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon who had raised the motion to put the ethics complaint against Lacson on hold or to “table” it. Drilon’s move was supported by the other committee members.
The senators said Faeldon’s continued refusal to attend senate hearings investigating the Customs controversy regarding the P6.4 billion shabu shipment that mysteriously passed the customs inspectors, was a sign of disrespect.
“He disregarded the rules of the Senate,” Drilon stressed.
“His conduct is really contemptuous because he refuses to appear and so this is a disrespect to the processes of the Senate. If he disrespects the processes in the blue ribbon (committee), he has no right to appear before the ethics committee and ask for a relief,” he said in another interview.
-Sotto wants Faeldon complaint dismissed-
Senate Majority Leader and ethics committee chair senator Vicente Sotto III even wants the dismissal of Faeldon’s ethics complaint against Lacson.
“In the present complaint, I think the way to go is to dismiss and not hold in abeyance,” Sotto said.
He cited the total parliamentary immunity of senators when making a privilege speech as another reason why Faeldon’s complaint against Lacson could be dismissed.
He said that if Faeldon would also continue to disrespect the Senate by refusing to attend hearings on the P6.4 billion shabu shipment that the customs bureau under his then leadership allowed to pass through, then his complaint against Lacson could really be dismissed.
“Ah wala, tagilid na ‘yan lalo. Totally mababasura na ‘yan,” said Sotto.
Senator Drilon also stressed that Faeldon had “no right” to file a complaint with the Senate ethics committee because the former customs chief himself did not respect senate processes in the hearings.
He said Faeldon would continue to be detained at the Senate until he learns to follow rules.
“Disrespectful” Faeldon has “no right” to file complaint with the Senate – Drilon
“Walang karapatang mag-demanda si Mr. Faeldon sa ethics committee hanggang hindi nya nirerespeto ang proseso ng blue ribbon committee… At hindi siya pakakawalan. Pakakawalan lamang siya kung tapos na ang termino ng 17th Congress dahilan sa contemptuous conduct ang kaniyang ipinakita,” Drilon said.
During the committee hearing on Monday, Drilon again minced no words in pointing Faeldon’s faults.
“He has disregarded the process of the Senate when he refused to appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee. To me, he has no right to come to this committee and ask for the remedy of disciplining a colleague when he himself does not recognize that process,” Drilon said.
Sotto, the Senate ethics committee chair, said Drilon was even trying to be nice when he moved that Faeldon’s complaint be “held in abeyance.”
“The members of the committee have spoken. Ang bottom line sa sinasabi ni Senator Drilon, he just has nice words, ang sinasabi diyan parang, di man lang namin ico-consider. Hindi mo kami kinikilala eh, ‘Di mo nirerespeto Senado. Ba’t namin irerespeto complaint mo? Kung ire-respeto mo Senado, ico-consider namin complaint mo,” Sotto said.
Other committee members who were present like Senators Grace Poe, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Gregorio Honasan also criticized Faeldon.
“Former Commissioner Faeldon has to do something better than this. His non-appearance indicates some degree, to my mind, bad faith. Payag ako dun nai- hold in abeyance (Faeldon’s complaint),” Honasan said referring his agreement with the other committee members’ decision on Faeldon’s ethics complaint against Lacson.
Even Hontiveros pointed to Faeldon’s lack of respect for the Senate processes.
“He’s seeking a relief against a colleague pero yung pinapakita niyang ugali di naman tumatapat. ‘Di nagbibigay ng karampatang respeto,” Hontiveros said.