FORMER Bangsamoro parliamentarian Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang, alleged to be the financier of the botched attempt to smuggle drugs from Laos, took to social media on Friday to deny involvement in the operation.
“‘Yung sinasabi po nila na involved po tayo sa Laos, hindi po totoo ’yun. Wala po akong nakausap na any government dito sa Pilipinas na para magpunta sa Laos o magdala dito na kahit anong bagay na makakasira sa ating bansa (What they are saying about us being involved in Laos is not true. I haven’t spoken to any government official here in the Philippines about going to Laos or bringing anything back here that could harm our country),” Rimbang said.
Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla released a diagram showing the personalities behind the attempted smuggling of 521 kilos of shabu (crystal meth) worth P3.5 billion into the Philippines. In the diagram, Rimbang was identified as the man who rented the private plane that was supposed to transport the contraband.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Rimbang paid P11.5 million for the operation.
Rimbang said he has never been involved in drug trade, saying he and his family are victims of trial by publicity.
He said he does not have the money to finance such a large-scale operation.
The CIDG has issued 40 subpoenas to people implicated in the shipment, including 11 persons of interest.
Seven persons of interest have appeared before the CIDG. The other four, including Rimbang, have not done so.
Remulla said Rimbang may have already flown out of the country.
CIDG chief Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said Rimbang had fictitious addresses.
In his social media post, Rimbang said he is still in the country.
“Bakit po tayo aalis sa bansa natin, may kaso po ba tayo? (Why would we leave our country, do we have a pending case?),” he said.
