3 individuals yet to appear before CIDG over Laos drug shipment

MANILA — Three individuals implicated in a drug shipment intercepted in Laos that was allegedly bound for the Philippines have yet to appear before the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the PNP said Wednesday.

PNP Public Information Office chief PCol. Allen Rae Co said the CIDG is still waiting for the three individuals to respond to subpoenas as authorities continue their criminal and financial investigation into the shipment.

“We are calling on them to appear before the CIDG because failure to appear, pwede tayo mag-file ng case against them for indirect contempt,” Co said.

He added that their failure to appear would also mean losing the opportunity to have their sides heard during the investigation.

Co did not identify the three individuals when asked whether Sultan Edrieza Nasser Rimbang, who has been linked to the shipment, was among those who had yet to appear.

The PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are jointly investigating the case, with the CIDG tasked to serve subpoenas, obtain statements from persons of interest, and conduct the police investigation.

Co said authorities held a case conference with the PDEA on Tuesday to finalize the division of tasks between the two agencies.

The investigation covers both the criminal and financial aspects of the case, with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) also assisting in the financial probe.

Authorities are now evaluating the evidence they have gathered for the eventual joint transmittal of the case by the PNP and PDEA.

Co said they are also awaiting the transmittal of case files from Laos and Malaysia to help advance the investigation.

Authorities have yet to conclude their probe into the alleged shipment and determine the possible criminal liability of those implicated.