House panel summons DILG's Remulla, PDEA's Nerez over attempted Laos drugs shipment

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The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs has summoned Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez over the attempted shipment of illegal drugs from Laos.

In a statement on Wednesday, committee chairman Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos said Remulla and Nerez were asked to appear before a preliminary briefing on Thursday, Oct. 22 to verify facts and provide the latest updates of the investigation.

“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.

He added that the panel would also seek the appearance of 10 other senior officials from concerned government agencies who may have relevant information about the reported shipment.

The House briefing comes amid concerns over alleged international drug syndicates smuggling illegal drugs into the Philippines.

“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 said.

Illegal drugs worth about P3.5 billion were seized from 23 suitcases at Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos.

The items inside the suitcases were declared as vape products bound for Manila aboard a chartered Learjet 55B.

Several personalities, including Mindanao politician and former Bangsamoro Parliament member Edriezan Hadji Nasser Rimbang, have been named as people of interest in the case.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has summoned 21 individuals to give information regarding the attempted shipment of drugs. — BAP, GMA News