Cop tagged in Laos drug flight says she thought cargo was vapes, cigarettes

MANILA — The Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group cop who allegedly facilitated the plane involved in the aborted flight of illegal drugs from Laos to the Philippines told senators Wednesday that, as far as she knew, they were transporting vapes and cigarettes.

Police Executive Master Sergeant Aileen Jayne Mendoza appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Services by video conference and said she did not know any details of supposed transactions.

“Wala naman pong facilitation po na nangyari sa ginawa ko po… Ang ginawa ko po kasi naghanap po ako ng aircraft na marerentahan,” she said when asked by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, committee chair.

(There was no facilitation in what I did. What I did was look for an aircraft that could be chartered.)

She said she was not “in charge” of any alleged facilitation and was only tasked with chartering ALS Aviation Services, which also operates as ALS Life Support Services Inc.

She also told Tulfo that the company is owned by a certain Captain Toledo. ALS’ online accounts identify Capt. Rioklyn Toledo as president and CEO.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier this month also mentioned Toledo, who he said has “a reputation for drug dealing that is why he was fired” from an airline.  

“Now, alam ba ni Captain Toledo na yung eroplano na parating ay merong kargang kuno vapes at cigarettes?” Tulfo inquired.

(Now, did Captain Toledo know that the plane that was arriving was carrying what allegedly were vapes and cigarettes?)

“Isa po ‘yan sa requirements, Mr. Chair. ” Mendoza said.

(That is one of the requirements, Mr. Chair.)

She later explained that it was the first time she did this.

Mendoza eventually identified the person who asked her to look for a plane as a certain Aldrin Samante, who in turn was asked by someone she identified as Col. Rudy Isidro. 

She said the two had also been talking to other parties to charter a jet until they got to her.

She said that after payment was made to ALS, Toledo handed her a contract for a flight on September 30, which was later rescheduled to October 3.

“Hanggang doon lang na po yung aking transaction. So yung mga susunod po, wala na po akong transaction,” she told the committee.

(That was the extent of my transaction. So I had no transactions in what followed.)

Authorities in Laos seized an airplane carrying a reported 521 kilograms of suspected shabu on October 1. The plane was believed to be headed to the Philippines.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed on October 11 that a Filipino was among those arrested by Lao authorities.