CIDG urges alleged Laos drug shipment financier to appear

MANILA — The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Wednesday urged former BARMM parliament member Sultan Edrieza Nasser Rimbang to appear before investigators probing the shipment of illegal drugs seized in Laos that was allegedly bound for the Philippines.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II said investigators have sent more than 40 subpoenas to individuals, companies and government agencies in connection with the case, including Rimbang, whom authorities identified as the alleged financier of the operation.

“Majority of them were essential para maitayo ‘yung kaso para mapagdugtong-dugtong natin,” Morico said.

Morico said investigators have yet to locate four individuals they consider persons of interest, including Rimbang and Abdulkarim Macalatas, the alleged consignee of the shipment.

Police had tried to locate them using addresses listed in official records, including those from the Land Transportation Office and Commission on Elections, as well as information gathered from social media.

“His addresses na dineclare niya sa Quiapo, Manila, Cavite and Iligan City, all of these are all fictitious including itong si Edrieza Nasser Rimbang,” Morico said.

“If he is really innocent, walang dahilan para hindi siya pumunta dito,” he added, urging Rimbang to cooperate with the investigation.

He stressed that the CIDG remains open to hearing Rimbang’s side.

Morico said most of those summoned had cooperated with authorities.

However, he clarified that not everyone who received a subpoena was considered a person of interest, as some were called to provide documents or validate evidence, including CCTV footage.

Morico said the investigation had traced a total of P11.5 million in funds allegedly used to facilitate the chartering of an aircraft for the operation.

Of that amount, around $120,000, or approximately P7 million, was allocated for the aircraft rental, while the remaining funds were distributed among other individuals involved in the transaction.

“P3 million is left para retained in the custody of the police officer para kapag dumating dito ‘yun po ang grease money,” Morico said.

According to Morico, the transaction began on September 7, when a private airline company was approached.

After the initial negotiations failed, Police Master Sergeant Aileen Mendoza of the PNP AVSEGROUP, allegedly helped scout other private airline companies that could be used for the operation.

“She was the one who scouted for private airline companies para gamitin. That’s why dumami ‘yung sinubpoena namin because there are companies na may mga tao coming from Subic, coming from Metro Manila area, mga company na kinausap until na makausap ‘yung airline company na may-ari nung nahuli sa Laos,” Morico said.

Morico said the group appeared to have been involved in local drug activities before attempting to expand its operations through contacts abroad.

Morico said investigators were confident they had pieced together the sequence of events based on CCTV footage, testimonies and documents obtained during the investigation.

The CIDG aims to submit its report to the PNP chief by Friday.

The report will then be forwarded to the PDEA, which is working with the CIDG on the case.

Morico said authorities were coordinating with the PDEA’s legal team to determine the appropriate charges, which could include offenses related to illegal drugs and conspiracy.

He did not specify the final charges, saying these would be determined in consultation with the agencies’ legal teams.