The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos, has summoned Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez to a briefing on Thursday, October 22, on the P3.5-billion worth of shabu reportedly bound for the Philippines.
By Billy Begas
The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos, has summoned Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez to a briefing on Thursday, October 22, on the P3.5-billion worth of shabu reportedly bound for the Philippines.
Santos said other senior officials of concerned agencies were also invited to the briefing.
“The briefing will focus on verified facts, the status of ongoing investigations by concerned agencies, the basis for establishing any Philippine connection to the shipment, and measures to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and combat related transnational criminal activities,” Santos said.
Remulla earlier identified former Bangsamoro Parliament member Edriezan Hadji Nasser Rimbang as the alleged “financier” of the chartered jet from which authorities seized 521 kilos of shabu in Laos.
Remulla also identified Police Executive Master Sergeant Aileen Mendoza of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group as a person of interest in connection with the shipment. Mendoza allegedly arranged the arrival flight of the aircraft that was supposed to transport the illegal drugs.
Capt. Rioklyn Toledo, a former commercial airline pilot, was also linked to the illegal operation as the one who allegedly procured the private aircraft and arranged its travel from Malaysia to Laos.
According to reports, the illegal drugs were discovered and seized at Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos as 23 pieces of luggage underwent customs clearance before being loaded onto a Manila-bound chartered Learjet 55B. The shipment was reportedly declared as vape products.
“We will follow the evidence wherever it leads. No one should be beyond scrutiny when the objective is to protect the public from the illegal drug trade. At the same time, allegations must be examined fairly, and every individual must be given the opportunity to respond,” Santos added.
Santos said the committee would coordinate with relevant government agencies to obtain information that could help establish the facts surrounding the shipment and identify those who may be responsible.
