FOR the second time this month, former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon has been allowed to leave the Senate detention center, where he has been jailed over contempt charges, to take his oath as deputy administrator III of the Office of Civil Defense.
Faeldon, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the OCD last Dec. 22 to replace Rodolfo Santillan, took his oath before Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
OCD Administrator and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Ricardo Jalad, OCD deputy administrator for administration Kristoffer James Purisima, and other officials also witnessed Faeldon’s oathtaking.
Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Jose V. Balajadia Jr. said Faeldon’s temporary release was upon the order of Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.
Earlier this month, Gordon’s panel also allowed Faeldon to leave his cell for humanitarian grounds. The former soldier visited his wife, who gave birth to their youngest child.
Balajadia said Faeldon returned to the Senate Sunday morning, and the Blue Ribbon committee again granted his request to attend the oathtaking on Monday.
Faeldon has been detained in the Senate for his repeated refusal to testify in the committee’s investigation on the P6.4-billion drug shipment from Xiamen, China, which happened while he was at the helm of the BoC.
Faeldon’s new position was created in 2016 as part of the OCD’s expansion to address the growing demands of the country’s Civil Defense and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programs.
Meanwhile, Lorenzana clarified the Defense department did not request Faeldon’s appointment to the OCD.
“We did not request for Nick Faeldon. Nevertheless, we welcome him with open arms to Team OCD. He is honest, dedicated and competent, and he would be an asset to the organization,” he said.
In a press statement, the OCD said Lorenzana urged Faeldon during the oathtaking ceremony to bring new insights that would contribute to the OCD’s development as the country’s lead DRRM agency.
Jalad expressed confidence that Faeldon will help OCD in the effort to provide efficient service to the public, in line with the country’s DRRM advocacy.
“My job is so broad covering all four pillars of DRRM plus the admin/logistics side, which include human resource and procurement. I welcome and support his appointment,” Jalad said.
Jalad had said that he “badly needs” a deputy at the OCD. He said OCD, having just transitioned into an approved organization with 25 Level 3 government positions, needs to strengthen its executive offices to provide direction and supervision to its five services and 17 regional offices.
Purisima said it was high time for the post to be filled given that operations services are vital, especially with the ongoing disaster operations for prevailing weather disturbances and the current state of Mayon Volcano.
Faeldon thanked Lorenzana, Jalad and Purisima for their support.
“OCD and our people at large can be assured that I will do my best to help OCD achieve its goals,” Faeldon said.
