MANILA -- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has welcomed the appointment of former Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner Nicanor Faeldon as deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), saying the former Marine official is "honest" and "competent".
"Nabakante yung Deputy Director III ng OCD (the Deputy Director (slot) of OCD III was vacant) and Undersecretary (Ricardo) Jalad was in the hunt for replacement. 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," Lorenzana said.
The OCD is one of the attached offices of the DND tasked to formulate a comprehensive national civil defense and disaster preparedness program.
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Faeldon who is currently detained at the Senate after refusing to testify on the probe of the PHP6.4-billion shabu shipment from China that slipped past the BOC's grasp.
In August, the President accepted Faeldon's resignation after he was linked to the controversy.
In a letter dated December 22, Faeldon was informed that he was appointed as OCD's deputy administrator.
Faeldon, who is expected to work even in detention, will replace Rodolfo Demosthenes Santillan. (PNA)
