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[av_heading heading=’ ‘Athlete staffers fit for BOC’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Bureau of Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon defended his decision to hire basketball and volleyball players as “intelligence staff” and “technical assistants.”
The 28 athletes were fit for the job, Faeldon said in a news conference late Friday.
Aside from helping make Customs officials physically fit, they are tasked to do intelligence work, the commissioner said.
“They have no background in intelligence work, and that is precisely the main reason that we hired them – because nobody will expect them to be gathering info for us,” said Faeldon. “So they are the most effective information gatherers.”
“But since they were already exposed to the public, they will never be effective anymore,” he added. “Before, they can do their jobs since no one expected that they were part of the organization.”
Among the athletes the Customs hired were former PBA players Kenneth Duremdes, Marlou Aquino, Edward Joseph Feihl, Ronjay Enrile, Gherome Ejercito, and Bernzon Franco. Also among them was former University of Santo Tomas Tigers mentor Bong Dela Cruz.
Hired volleyball players were Alyssa Valdez, Danielle Castañeda, Menchie Tubiera, Andrea Marzan, Rizza Mandapat, Jonalyn Ibisa, Fenela Emnas, and Cyrine Gonzaga. Also listed were Ateneo Lady Eagles assistant coaches Sherwin Meneses and Parley Tupaz.
The basketball players have reportedly played for the Customs team in the UNTV Cup, while Valdez and company represented the office in the Shakey’s V-League last season where it finished at second place.
Faeldon authorized his chief of staff, Atty. Mandy Anderson, to sign the daily time record of the hired athletes, according to the document shown by Rep. Raneo Abu of Batangas./PN
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