By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Former Bangsamoro parliament member Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang is expected to appear before the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on November 5 to submit his sworn statement regarding an aborted shipment of 521 kilograms of shabu from Laos valued at ₱3.54 billion.
PDEA spokesman Joseph Frederick Calulut said Rimbang’s lawyers had met with agency officials and committed to presenting their client on the scheduled date so he could give his side of the case.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has identified Rimbang as an alleged financier and mastermind behind the attempted smuggling operation. Its investigation reportedly found that he allegedly paid ₱11.5 million to facilitate the entry of the illegal drugs into the Philippines.
Rimbang was among 40 individuals and companies of interest summoned by the CIDG as investigators pursued leads in the case.
He has denied financing the attempted smuggling of the illegal drugs.
His expected appearance before PDEA is an opportunity for investigators to obtain his sworn account as the inquiry into the high-value drug shipment continues.
The case centers on the attempted entry of more than half a ton of shabu from Laos, with authorities investigating the people and entities allegedly involved in financing and facilitating the shipment.
Rimbang’s appearance and statement are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation. The allegations against him have not been established as proven facts in court.
ia/xf
