AFTER ignoring his initial subpoena, former Bangsamoro Transition Authority parliament member Edrieza Nasser Rimbang, accused of being the financier of the multibillion botched Laos drug shipment, is set to appear for an investigation before the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Nov. 5.
PDEA spokesman Joseph Frederick Calulut confirmed that three of Rimbang’s lawyers visited the PDEA office on Oct. 27 to attest that their client will show up on Nov. 5 to submit his sworn statement.
Rimbang’s team came to the PDEA office after the subpoena was sent to the ex-Bangsamoro official for allegedly financing the chartered 986 Learjet 55B that attempted to transport the 521-kilo shabu shipment to the Philippines but was intercepted by Laos authorities at Luang Prabang International Airport on Oct. 1.
“Based on the evidence on hand, he appears to be the mastermind, not just a financier. We are waiting for him to give his statement so his defense isn’t just on social media. It’s better if it is in an affidavit,” Calulut told reporters in a phone interview on Thursday.
A Filipino national identified as Fahad Mulok Dibarosan was arrested during the foiled smuggling attempt.
Calulut noted that two other persons of interest (POIs) linked to the case have yet to appear before the PDEA.
Depending on Rimbang’s affidavit, Calulut said more POIs will be identified “as the case progresses.”
“Wala naman palugit, but we have a date doon sa mga subpoena na pina-receive natin sa kanila. So, na sa kanila ‘yan kung lulutang sila, pero mas maganda humarap na lang sila since POIs naman sila (There’s no extra grace period, but we have a set date on the subpoenas we had them receive. So it’s up to them if they’ll show up, but it’s better if they just face it since they’re POIs anyway),” he said.
“Kapag sinabing POI, hindi naman agad-agad ay suspect eh. It could be possible na ikaw ay isang witness din (When we say POI, they are not automatically treated as suspects),” said Calulut.
Calulut emphasized that PDEA holds documentary evidence proving Rimbang bankrolled the operation.
“We have documents, we have evidence na nagsasabi si Rimbang ang nagbigay ng pera,” he said.
Calulut stated that the PDEA is keenly verifying the possible involvement of Rimbang in previous illegal drug transactions.
“Well, looking at his history, kung taga-saan ba si Rimbang, doon sa lugar na matagal nang known na maraming drug personalities, so hindi naman, dahil sinasabi niya na wala siyang kinalaman (sa illegal drugs), wala raw siyang kinita, ay we are going to believe it as gospel truth. So marami tayong tinitsek na mga anggulo pa (Well, looking at his history and considering where Rimbang hails from, a place known to have numerous drug personalities, we are not going to believe it as gospel truth just because he claimed his innocence and not earning from the drug deals. So we are still checking a lot of angles),” Calulut said.
He also rejected Rimbang’s claims of absolute innocence, noting the suspect’s background in an area known for drug personalities.
“Just because he says he has no involvement doesn’t mean we are going to believe it as the gospel truth. We are checking many other angles,” Calulut added.
Rimbang is among three POIs who have yet to face PDEA, which includes a consignee, identified as Abdulkarim Macalatas, and other unnamed individuals.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla identified 11 persons of interest in the case, including former Bangsamoro Transition Authority parliament member Edriezan Hadji Nasser Rimbang, whom he identified as the alleged financier of the operation.
The PDEA is also coordinating with foreign counterparts and awaiting additional documents and information from Malaysia in connection with the investigation.
The PDEA is also awaiting information from Laotian authorities regarding Fahad.
