Ex-BARMM parliament member denies link to Laos drug shipment after ‘mastermind’ tag

MANILA — Former Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament member Sultan Edrieza Nasser Rimbang and his family have strongly denied recent allegations linking him to illegal drugs seized in Laos.

In a statement addressing the allegations circulating on social media, Rimbang maintained that there is no truth to the accusations leveled against him and his family.

“Nandito po ako sa araw na ito upang humarap sa inyo at ipahayag itong mga paratang sa akin, binibintang sa akin sa aking pamilya na wala po itong katotohanan,” Rimbang stated.

“Na sinasabi po nila na involved po tayo sa Laos, hindi po totoo ‘yon. Wala po akong nakausap na any government dito sa Pilipinas o mga tao dito sa Pilipinas para magpunta sa Laos, magdala dito ng kahit anong bagay na makasisira sa ating bayan,” he insisted.

He also expressed the severe impact the issue has had on them, particularly on the well-being and education of his children due to the alleged misinformation spreading online.

“Masakit po ito mga kababayan kong Pilipino… ‘Yung mga picture naming mag-asawa pinaglalagay nila sa social media na hindi ko alam, hindi ko maintindihan… Hindi lang po masakit itong pagbibintangan ako, yung mga anak ko ang pinakamasakit sa akin natigil po sila mag-aral,” he added.

The statement from Rimbang’s camp follows a hearing conducted by the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, where he was named by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the alleged mastermind behind a seized illegal drug shipment in Laos that was bound for the Philippines.