MANILA - Retired PBA players, who were hired by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), faced a congressional inquiry on the P6.4-B shabu shipment from China on Monday.

Among the PBA legends present were Marlou Aquino, Kenneth Duremdes and EJ Feihl, who were all hired by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon.

Feihl, who was hired last August 16, 2016, said he receives P40,000 monthly for his job as an intelligence analyst. But he admits not doing intelligence-related tasks yet.

"Sir, nasa under training po kami ngayon po, sa intelligence po... Uma-attend lang kami ng seminars po," Feihl told Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo during the interpellation.

"Nasa ano po kami, basketball team po. At the same time nagko-conduct po kami ng basketball clinics," he added after he was asked to justify the salary he receives monthly.

Aquino and Duremdes, meanwhile, said they were hired as technical assistants for special activities of the Office of the Commissioner.

Duremdes said their work is "more of public engagement," "information dissemination" and "image building," but he admitted later not having attended seminars on basic Customs knowledge.

"We're doing some community works na maano namin sa public na kahit papaano, may changes na sa bureau," Duremdes explained.

Aside from the three former PBA players, the Customs bureau also hired athletes from other sports.

Custom's Budget Director Henry Torres said the salary of the athletes were sourced from the agency's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE)

"'Yung budget na kinkuiha is programmed under 'other professional services,' under the [MOOE], not 'personnel services,'" he explained.

Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso pointed out the athletes' salaries should have been sourced from an item allocated particularly for them.

"Dahil wala tayong naka-specify doon na ang pondo para sa atleta, ipinasok na natin sa 3 opisina," Veloso said.

Responding to the lawmaker, Atty. Mandy Anderson, the chief of staff of Faeldon, said Aquino, Duremdes and Feihl were not hired as athletes.

"The commissioner has a lot of projects he puts in place in order for the Bureau of Customs to disseminate information, to gather information," she said.

"Even if it is not specified by law?" asked Veloso.

He pointed out the former PBA legends, based on their testimonies, function as athletes for public relations, far from what their job descriptions say they should be doing.

"Whatever he (the commissioner) does, sir, is for the good of the bureau and for the good of the country," Atty. Anderson responded.

"In law we were taught not everything done for the good of the country is valid," the lawmaker said for his final point.