Former Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament member Edrieza Nasser Rimbang is due to face investigators next week to give his side on the botched shipment of 521 kilos of shabu from Laos to the Philippines.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesman Frederick Calulut said three lawyers went to PDEA on Thursday to say their client will appear before the agency on November 5.
“They committed to bring Rimbang before our office on November 5…They went here to assure us that he (Rimbang) will come here on November 5,” Calulut said.
Asked if the lawyers denied their client’s involvement in the shipment, Calulut said: “There was none…His lawyers said he (Rimbang) will appear (before PDEA).”
Rimbang was earlier implicated as the financier of the shipment of the P3.54 billion worth of shabu.
Laotian authorities intercepted a private jet at Luang Prabang Airport last October 1 after the pilot refused to allow the loading of the illegal drugs onto the plane.
They seized the illegal drugs and promptly arrested a Filipino, identified as Fahad Mulok Dibarosan, along with 12 Malaysian and Singaporean citizens.
“According to the lawyers, he (Rimbang) will come here and give his statement to us. So we will know on November 5 what Rimbang will say,” Calulut said.
Calulut said Rimbang will face a team of investigators from PDEA and PNP who are conducting a joint probe on the incident.
“We will see if he will deny or give further clarification as to his participation in the botched plan to smuggle dangerous drugs into the country,” Calulut also said.
Calulut disclosed that two other persons of interest, who have been invited to give their side, have yet to surface to give their statements.
One of them, Calulut said, was the alleged consignee, Abdulkarim Macalatas.
“We are giving the chance to (present) their side. If they don’t want it, that’s up to them,” Calulut said, adding their non-cooperation does not mean they will be spared from possible charges.
Calulut earlier said charges of trading of illegal drugs may be filed against Rimbang and other individuals implicated in the aborted drug shipment.
He said they may not meet their initial target to file the cases before the end of this month.
“We have identified additional persons of interest so the (timeline) will be extended. In the course of the investigation, there were names that came out so we have to invite them also (for investigation),” Calulut also said.