Dutertes not linked to foiled Laos drug shipment — Jonvic Remulla

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the Duterte family had no links to the foiled attempt to smuggle illegal drugs from Laos to Mindanao.

“None,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told GMA News Online when asked whether the family was connected to the attempted shipment.

An earlier report said the Duterte family knew the individuals involved in the attempted drug smuggling.

The Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has summoned 21 individuals to provide information about the attempted shipment of 521 kilograms of shabu from Laos.

More individuals could be summoned in connection with the case, PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said.

Remulla earlier identified former Bangsamoro Parliament member Edriezan Hadji Nasser Rimbang as the Mindanao politician allegedly involved in the attempted smuggling of P3.5 billion worth of shabu from Laos to the Philippines.

Rimbang has yet to comment on the allegation.

Remulla also alleged that Rimbang paid Police Master Sergeant Aileen Jane Manalo Mendoza for landing rights and the use of a private hangar where the aircraft carrying the shipment from Laos was supposed to land in the last week of September.

The private plane was allegedly procured by Capt. Rioklyn Toledo, also known as “Boyet,” who arranged for it to travel from Malaysia to Laos, Remulla said.—MCG, GMA News

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