Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has stopped short of linking a Davao-based drug syndicate to the alleged ₱3.5-billion drug shipment intercepted in Laos, as authorities traced the suspected shabu to the Golden Triangle drug trafficking region.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday, Oct. 16, that investigators were focusing on specific individuals rather than attributing the operation to a particular city or group.
“We are not labelling any ethnicity or city or people. We are putting a name to the face of who we suspect are the persons of interest involved dito sa nangyaring ito,” Remulla said during a Palace briefing.
[Translation: We are not labeling any ethnicity, city or group of people. We are identifying the individuals suspected of involvement in this incident.]
Remulla confirmed the source of the 521 kilograms of suspected shabu, the local version of methamphetamine hydrochloride, from a major drug-producing region spanning parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.
“It’s positively from the Golden Triangle angle. Doon galing itong drugs na ito,” he said. [Translation: The drugs came from there.]
The DILG is looking at the possible involvement of other politicians, although Remulla said the investigation has so far identified former Bangsamoro parliament member Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang as the suspected financier.
“We are not ruling anyone out. But as of now siya pala ang lumalabas,” Remulla said.
[Translation: We are not ruling anyone out. But for now, he is the only one who has emerged.]
Rimbang, also known as Sultan Rimbang, allegedly financed arrangements for a private aircraft that was supposed to transport the suspected drugs from Laos to Manila in late September.
Remulla earlier confirmed that Rimbang belonged to the same political party as former President Rodrigo Duterte but said investigators had not established any connection between the former president and the alleged smuggling operation.
Remulla to Duterte: Hindi ito hula
The interior secretary also addressed Vice President Sara Duterte’s earlier statement expressing regret over the country’s alleged involvement in the drug shipment, particularly as neighbors intensified their campaigns against illegal drugs.
Remulla said the government was presenting the findings to correct conflicting accounts surrounding the shipment.
“That is why kaya tayo nandito eh, because a different narrative was being reported,” he said.
[Translation: That is why we are here, because different accounts were being reported.]
“This is based on facts, this is based on actual documents, this is based upon extensive police work,” Remulla added.
“Hindi ito hula, hindi ito akusasyon, hindi ito moro-moro. Ito talaga ang lumabas sa actual investigation between all the agencies involved here, kasama rin ang counterparts natin sa Southeast Asia,” he said.
[Translation: This is not guesswork, an accusation or a staged investigation. These are the findings of the actual investigation conducted by the agencies involved, together with our counterparts in Southeast Asia.]
The Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency have identified at least 13 persons of interest as they continue tracing the financial transactions behind the alleged operation.
Authorities are still awaiting laboratory results from Laos to confirm the nature of the seized substance.
