Inside story: Politician behind 521-kilo shabu shipment bound for Manila

Philippine authorities finally named the alleged persons of interest in the multi-million-peso shabu shipment from Laos bound for Manila.

Not only that, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla also named the Mindanaoan official allegedly linked to the operation.

“Yes, Edrieza [Hadji Nasser Rimbang] was a former member of parliament that lost the last election,” Remulla told reporters, when asked if he was the politician said to be linked to the operation.

Earlier this week, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced that a 521-kilogram shipment believed to be methamphetamine or shabu was intercepted in Laos. It was reportedly bound for Manila.

“Sultan Edrieza Rimbang H. Nasser is believed to be the financier of the entire operation,” the DILG chief said.

On October 15, PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut revealed that their agency had identified the alleged financier behind the controversial drug operation. He said the politician was based in Mindanao, but did not name names.

Rimbang was a former member of the Office of Muslim Affairs. In 2019, he was one of the 75 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) appointed by former president Rodrigo Duterte whose primary campaign was a war on drugs.

In the recent Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, Rimbang ran for a seat in Lanao del Sur’s 3rd District, against Abdul Rauf Adiong (nephew of Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr.) and Jamel Ditucalan. (READ: BARMM polls: Who are the bets for Lanao del Sur’s 9 seats?)

Rimbang lost the race and was a far second placer to Adiong. He got 19,996 or 23.91% of the votes.

The (alleged) ties that bind

On Monday, October 12, PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez confirmed the confiscation of the 521-kilogram shabu in Laos, explaining that Philippine authorities received information about the supposed deliveries two weeks ago.

“They [Malaysian authorities] gave us the information. That information kept us in vigilant mode,” said Nerez.

“The 521 kilograms [of shabu] were seized because of the pilot’s refusal to put the baggage in his airplane. That’s what triggered the discovery. But we have to still verify if there was intelligence that resulted in, or that contributed to, the confiscation of drugs,” the PDEA chief added in Filipino.

As confirmed by the DILG chief, the supposed shipment allegedly came from the “Golden Triangle.” The area — a cross-border zone covering Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and a bit of the Yunnan province, China — is said to be a crime fortress.

Remulla, on Friday, announced that there are 11 individuals who are currently considered persons of interest in the case and under investigation. This includes Rimbang.

A cop, Police Executive Master Sergeant Aileen Mendoza, is also part of the list disclosed by authorities. She used to work for the Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Group. Authorities said Mendoza already issued a statement to the PNP and had submitted an affidavit.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Mendoza is currently under the PNP’s restrictive custody and was relieved from her duty.

Meanwhile, other important figures in the operation include Rioklyn “Boyet” Toledo, a licensed pilot who formerly worked for a major airline. Remulla said Toledo procured the plane from Malaysia to Laos to the Philippines, while Mendoza allegedly arranged for the plane’s arrival and hangar.

Based on the authorities’ diagram, the shipment was allegedly supposed to be delivered to Manila Aerospace Parts and Services Inc. or MAPTRA.

“It [the shipment] was supposed to land in Manila last Week of September, supposed to park at MAPTRA hangar arranged by…Miss Aileen Mendoza,” said Remulla.

Fahad Mulok Dibarosan has been the only one arrested in Laos for the operation, and is the one who has links to Rimbang. According to Remulla, Rimbang and Dibarosan are in-laws because their wives are sisters.

Abdulahkarim Macalatas, meanwhile, is the alleged consignee of the shipment.

“Abdulahkarim Macalatas is the alleged distributor. He will be the consignee and the one who was supposed to distribute the shipment in the Philippines,” said Remulla in Filipino.

Battle of narratives?

Even before the incumbent authorities could announce the seizure of the multi-million-peso shipment, Vice President Sara Duterte, an ally-turned-political enemy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., issued a statement.

The Vice President expressed concern over the issue.

“We also acknowledge the challenges our own country faces in addressing the illegal drug trade. We recognize the concerns surrounding the Philippines’ role in regional drug trafficking and express my deep regret that our country has become associated with this problem,” said Duterte.

“As a member of ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations], the Philippines acknowledges its responsibility to do more. We commit ourselves to strengthening our law enforcement efforts, improving regional intelligence-sharing, and deepening cooperation with our ASEAN partners to combat transnational drug trafficking,” she added.

But Remulla said on Friday that they held the presser to dispel false narratives. Especially the claim that “people of Manila” were the ones allegedly involved in the mess.

“That is why we’re here, because the different narrative was being reported. This is based on facts, this is based on actual documents, this is based upon extensive police work. This is not based on guesses, accusations, or dilly-dallies,” the DILG chief explained.

“This is based on actual investigation between all the agencies involved here, including our counterparts from Southeast Asia,” he added. – Rappler.com