NBI team ready to fly to Laos for shabu haul probe

MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has prepared a team to travel to Laos to coordinate with local authorities and gather information on a major shabu seizure, but is still awaiting the Laos government’s go signal.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau is coordinating with the Laos government and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before proceeding with the planned mission.

“Team ready already to go to Laos, but we’re waiting for their go signal for us to go there,” Matibag said.

Matibag clarified that the NBI’s objective is not to arrest the suspect in Laos, but to establish the circumstances surrounding the drug shipment and identify the individuals behind its booking and coordination.

“Not to get the suspect, because if you will look at it, crime is not committed in our country,” the NBI chief said.

He explained that under the principle of territoriality in criminal law, offenses are generally prosecuted in the country where they were committed, subject to exceptions under Philippine law.

“Ang crime kasi natin, for the information na rin ng public, can be prosecuted sa Pilipinas if it’s committed sa Pilipinas. ’Yun po ’yung principle of territoriality na tinatawag sa criminal law,” Matibag said.

Despite the jurisdictional considerations, the NBI wants to pursue the investigation in the interest of the country, particularly to determine who arranged the shipment and who communicated with the individuals involved.

“Because of national interest, we want to find out sino ang nagbo-book, sino talaga nakausap,” Matibag said.

The NBI also intends to interview the person arrested in Laos, as well as the Lao authorities who carried out the arrest, to obtain information that could help establish the facts and identify possible links to the Philippines.

Matibag added that the bureau is coordinating with other concerned agencies as part of the investigation, including matters related to the reclamation issue mentioned in his statement.

The planned mission underscores the NBI’s efforts to work with foreign law enforcement authorities and Philippine government agencies to establish the facts surrounding the drug seizure and determine whether individuals in the Philippines may be linked to the operation.