Ex-BARMM parliament member to appear before PDEA over 521-kg drug shipment

MANILA — Former Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament member Sultan Edrieza Nasser Rimbang is expected to appear before the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on November 5 over his alleged involvement in a 521-kilogram illegal drug shipment seized in Laos.

PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut said Rimbang’s lawyers went to the agency’s office and committed to bring their client next week. 

“We subpoenaed Sultan Rimbang and pumunta mga abogado niya, and they assured us na lulutang siya rito sa ating opisina on November 5,” Calulut said.

Authorities have identified Rimbang as the alleged financier of the shipment, which investigators believe was bound for the Philippines.

Rimbang earlier denied the allegations in a video statement, insisting he had no involvement in the illegal drug operation.

Calulut, however, said evidence gathered so far suggested that Rimbang could have played a bigger role in the operation.

“Based on the evidence on hand, he appears to be the mastermind, hindi lang siya financier. We are still waiting for him to come to our office to give his statement para at least ‘yung statement niya, hindi lang pang social media,” he said. 

Calulut said authorities were still checking other angles of the case and would not automatically accept his denial as proof that he had no involvement.

“Looking at the history, kung taga-saan si Rimbang, known na maraming drug personalities. So hindi naman dahil sinasabi niya na wala siyang kinalaman, we are going to believe it’s a gospel truth. So marami pa tayong tsini-check na mga anggulo pa,” he added. 

Aside from Rimbang, two other persons of interest have yet to appear before authorities, including Abdulkarim Macalatas, who was identified as the alleged consignee of the shipment.

Calulut said the number of persons of interest could still increase as investigators gather more information and obtain statements from those involved.

He clarified that being tagged as a person of interest does not automatically mean someone is a suspect, as authorities may also be looking at individuals who could serve as witnesses.

Meanwhile, the PDEA is awaiting information from Laotian authorities regarding Fahad Mulok Dibarosan, the Filipino arrested in connection with the case.

Calulut said the agency had coursed a request for information through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and was waiting for a response from its foreign counterparts.

He said the agency expects to receive an update sometime in November, although the timeline will depend on the response of the other country.

The PDEA is also coordinating with foreign counterparts and awaiting additional documents and information from Malaysia in connection with the investigation.

Calulut clarified that the Laos shipment was separate from another drug shipment recovered in Thailand. Investigators have no evidence so far that the Thailand shipment was headed for the Philippines.

In the Laos case, he said, authorities have flight records and a manifest indicating that the shipment was bound for the country.