FOUR major persons of interest in the Laos drug case — including former Bangsamoro parliament member Edriezah Rimbang, the alleged financier of the operation — have ignored a police subpoena and are now nowhere to be found.
Gen. Alexander Morico II, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said they have issued about 40 subpoenas, though most of the subjects were not persons of interest, but persons who could help reconstruct the entire operation.
“Out of the more than 35 people we subpoenaed, there are four we are still looking for today. This includes Edrieza Nasser Rimbang, former BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) official, and Abdul Karim Macalatas, who was the consignee,” Morico said in English and Filipino.
He also pointed to two others whose testimonies he said were “essential” — Abdul Rimbang Macarimbang and Aldren Nadal Samante, tagged as members of the operational network.
Fictitious addresses
Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said Rimbang might have already left the Philippines via the country’s backdoor exits in Mindanao.
Morico said the CIDG found that their registered addresses were fictitious.
Rimbang, in particular, declared addresses in Quiapo, Manila, Cavite and Iligan City, but he was not found in any of these residences.
Morico called out to Rimbang and the others to cooperate and exercise their right to due process.
“If he is truly innocent, there is no reason for him not to appear before us,” Morico said. “The CIDG is open, and he can exercise his right to be heard. But what I am trying to say is that the CIDG has practically already pieced the whole story together, and we have already matched up all the details.” Morico said they have the entire story through testimonies along with crucial CCTV clips and documentation, and are set to submit the results of the investigation to the Philippine National Police chief on Friday, Oct. 23.
According to the CIDG chief, the operation was planned for over a month, starting from the procurement of the private plane to the assignment of people for every process.
“It started sometime on Sept. 7 when a private airline company was approached.
Morico also revealed that the total amount Rimbang paid for the private plane was not P3.2 million as initially reported but P11.5 million.
