By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership has directed its intelligence and investigative units to track local ties connected to a massive drug cargo intercepted in Laos following reports that a local politician financed its flight.
In a statement on Friday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group are now working with other government agencies in checking information that could help identify all the individuals and networks involved in the drug trafficking operation.
This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through the guidance of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs and strengthen coordination among law enforcement agencies.
“We are validating all available information and coordinating closely with other agencies to establish any possible links to drug trafficking networks in the country. We will pursue every credible lead and ensure that any action we take is firmly supported by evidence,” Nartatez said.
The goal, he said, is to file a strong case in order to hold all the people behind the foiled drug smuggling accountable for their illegal activity.
“That’s a lot of illegal drugs and just imagine if their illegal activity succeeded. How many Filipinos, especially from the youth, will be affected by this? We will not let this pass and we will hold them accountable,” said Nartatez.
The directive followed the disclosure that a politician from the southern part of the country allegedly financed the chartered flight used to transport the illegal drugs intercepted in Laos.
The seizure involved 521 kilograms of suspected shabu worth approximately PHP3.54 billion, discovered on Oct. 1 at Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos.
Authorities said the drugs were intended for transport to the Philippines aboard a private jet and a Filipino national was among those arrested in connection with the shipment.
A separate operation in Thailand led to the seizure of 1,178 kilograms of suspected shabu worth around PHP8.01 billion from a fishing vessel on Oct. 7, which was also allegedly bound for the Philippines. Six Thai crew members were arrested.
In a press briefing held in Camp Crame on Friday, PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said: “Walang politics itong investigation. Hindi tayo nakikihalo sa pulitika. Ang sa atin ay all our investigations are evidence-based, based on facts and based on documents, yun lang ang sa atin kaya nga ang sinasabi natin dito ang nilalabas lang natin ay kaya lang natin ilaban sa korte. We do not play politics (There is no politics in the investigation. We do not meddle in politics. On our part, all our investigations are evidence-based, based on facts, and based on documents — that is all there is to it for us. That is why what we are saying here is that we only release what we can defend in court).”
Nartatez said the PNP would work with concerned government agencies to exchange intelligence and cross-check information on the identified suspects to determine whether they have links to local drug trafficking networks and whether other domestic facilitators may be involved. (PNA)
