Ex-Bangsamoro MP Rimbang denies involvement in P3.5B Laos drug shipment

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Former Bangsamoro parliament member Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang on Friday denied involvement in the attempted smuggling of P3.5 billion worth of illegal drugs from Laos to the Philippines.

“Wala po itong katotohanan (there is no truth to this),” Rimbang said in a video posted on his social media page.

“‘Yung sinasabi po nila na [nag] import po tayo nung sa Laos, hindi po totoo ‘yun. Wala po akong nakausap na any government dito sa Pilipinas o mga tao dito sa Pilipinas para magpunta sa Laos o magdala dito ng kahit anong bagay na makakasira sa ating bansa,” he added.

(What they are saying about us importing that from Laos is not true. I have not spoken to any government or any people here in the Philippines about going to Laos or bringing anything here that could harm our country.)

Last week, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla tagged Rimbang as the Mindanao politician allegedly involved in the smuggling. He said Rimbang was believed to be the financier of the entire operation.

According to Remulla, Rimbang is married to Princess Rohaniah Rimbang, the sister of the wife of alias "Fahad" who was arrested at an airport in Laos.

Rimbang appealed to the government to refrain from disclosing his family’s names and pictures on social media.

He said that his family and children’s lives have been affected.

“Nakikiusap ako sa ating gobyerno na 'wag po natin ilagay sa social media ‘yung mga pangalan namin, ‘yung mga mukha namin na wala namang ebidensya, wala naman tayong ginawang masama,” he said.

(I am appealing to our government not to post our names and faces on social media when there is no evidence and we have done nothing wrong.)

“Pinanganak ako na wala akong naging kaso sa gobyerno, lalo sa droga. Hindi ako nakipagkuntsaba sa mga ilegal na gawain kasi ayaw ko masira ang pangalan ko,” he added.

(I was born without ever having a case against me with the government, especially involving drugs. I never colluded in illegal activities because I don’t want to tarnish my name.)

READ: Who is Edrieza Rimbang, the ex-solon allegedly linked to the P3.5-B shabu from Laos?

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued subpoenas to 11 persons of interest. —AOL, GMA News