Pacquiao tells Faeldon: Quit

Bureau of Corrections director general Nicanor Faeldon (center) attends the Senate hearing on Tuesday. (Hana Bordey)

Senator Manny Pacquiao believes Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Nicanor Faeldon is a good and honest man amid the controversies but urged him to vacate his post while the investigation on the implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law is still on track.

At the same time, Pacquiao called the GCTA-for-sale allegations inside the BuCor “too fantastic and clearly exaggerated.”

“I know that Undersecretary Faeldon is a good man and has served his country well but I really think that he can spare the President and this administration from embarrassment by taking a leave-of-absence. It is temporary anyway and he can easily go back to the BuCor or in any other government position once this issue has been fully clarified,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

”Besides, the president is unnecessarily dragged into this whole mess, being the appointing authority. If Usec. Faeldon truly respects the president, he must do the right thing. I’m pretty sure everything will work out for him in the end,” Pacquiao added.

The lawmaker said he “fully believes in the integrity and honesty” of the BuCor chief but the aborted release of rape-slay convict Antonio Sanchez “ demands his full and undivided attention especially in attending ongoing investigations by the Senate and the House of Representatives.”

Pacquiao also thinks the supposed release of the former Calauan, Laguna mayor and other criminals detained due to heinous crimes should not occur.

Pacquiao reiterated his call for the restoration of the death penalty.

“This GCTA law should be reviewed and should only cover petty crimes. On the other hand, this controversy should already serve as a wakeup call for Congress to finally approve re-imposition of the death penalty on certain heinous crimes,” Pacquiao said.