The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs holds its second hearing on the entry of P 6.4-billion worth of shabu into the country from China through the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon is absent for Monday's hearing.
They were told that the BOC chief had a 'dental emergency.'
Lawmakers criticized the reason provided.
House Deputy Speaker Miro Quimbo said, 'less than a heart attack, he should show up. He's a soldier."
AKO BICOL Partylist Representative Rodel Batocabe recalled, Quimbo once reported to the session hall with dextrose, when there was an important bill that needed to be voted on.
Committee Chairman Robert Ace Barbers asked other BOC officials present in the proceeding to relay to Faeldon that lawmakers are "more than willing to wait for him" to arrive.
Witness Mark Taguba is set to testify in the investigation.
Taguba had facilitated the delivery of containers which supposedly had the cylinders where the illegal drugs were hidden.
