By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
After refusing to attend for months, Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon made an appearance at the Senate upon the resumption of blue ribbon committee hearings on corruption in the Bureau of Customs and on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment mess.
But at the start of the hearing, Faeldon received a lecture from blue ribbon committee chair Senator Richard Gordon, who denounced the former Customs chief’s statements his rights were being trampled on by the Senate with its continued detention of him.
Faeldon filed a petition before the Supreme Court on the same day, asking it to declare the Senate’s detention of him illegal.
According to Gordon, the Senate even allowed Faeldon to hold a party in his detention cell in December.
“You can invoke your right against self-incrimination to questions but it should not be a blanket one,” Gordon said.
Faeldon reacted and said that Gordon was exaggerating.
He raised his voice and said Gordon had no intention of knowing the truth.
“You’re monologue-ing..,” Faeldon said.
To which Gordon replied, “Your actions show how defiant you are. You will remain under contempt.”
Faeldon replied: “I have no problem with that.”
At this juncture, Faeldon’s microphone was turned off and he was again placed under contempt.