DILG, PDEA chiefs summoned for House panel briefing on Laos shabu shipment

MANILA —  The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs summoned Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isagani Nerez for a preliminary briefing on Thursday on the shipment of shabu intercepted in Laos allegedly bound for the Philippines.

This is to look into ongoing investigations by agencies as well as the basis for establishing Philippine connection to the shipment, according to the panel’s chairperson, Las Pinas Lone District Representative Mark Anthony Santos.

“Ang gusto nating malaman ay malinaw. Ano ang verified facts? May Philippine connection ba? At anong ginagawa ng ating mga ahensiya para mapigilan ang pagpasok ng illegal drugs? Hindi tayo dapat umasa sa haka-haka. Kailangan nating malaman kung may ebidensya at kung ano ang patuloy na pang-verification na ginagawa ng mga agencies natin,” Santos told reporters on Wednesday. 

Also among agencies invited are the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), according to Santos.

The briefing is also meant to determine measures to prevent the entry of illegal drugs, Santos said.