A female sergeant assigned to the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP) has been removed from her post and confined to her unit's compound following allegations that she helped facilitate what could have been one of the largest drug deliveries ever attempted into the country.
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced in an official statement that Police Executive Master Sergeant Aileen Jayne Manalo Mendoza's relief and restrictive custody took effect on October 13, 2026, while an inter-agency investigation remains ongoing.
DILG Names 11 Persons of Interest
During a Malacañang press briefing on October 16, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla publicly identified Mendoza as one of 11 persons of interest tied to the shipment. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) placed the value of the intercepted narcotics at ₱3.54 billion.
Nartatez confirmed at the same briefing that Mendoza remains confined at the AVSEGROUP compound. The PNP chief said criminal and administrative charges will only be pursued if evidence establishes her actual involvement, stressing that due process will be observed throughout the investigation.
Her Alleged Role: Arranging Hangar Access
According to Remulla, Mendoza is accused of arranging access to the MAPTRA hangar inside the General Aviation Area of the Manila Domestic Airport complex in Pasay City — the intended touchdown point for the drug-carrying aircraft.
Remulla said Mendoza was contacted by Rioklyn Pizarras Toledo, also known as "Boyet," a licensed pilot and former airline employee who was allegedly dismissed over a reputation involving drug dealing. Toledo is accused of sourcing the aircraft and coordinating its flight from Malaysia to Laos.
The DILG secretary further alleged that suspected financier Rimbang paid Mendoza for the landing arrangements and use of the private hangar, though no public statement from Mendoza or Rimbang had been issued as of press time.
Suspected Financier and Consignee Identified
Remulla named former Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament member Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang, alias "Sultan," as the operation's suspected financier. Nartatez said Rimbang is believed to still be inside the Philippines.
Abdulkarim Macalatas was identified as the consignee on record — the person designated to receive and distribute the shipment once it arrived in Manila.
Learjet Seized in Laos Before Reaching Philippine Soil
Lao authorities intercepted the suspected shabu aboard a chartered Learjet 55 at Luang Prabang International Airport on October 1, 2026, after the plane flew in from Malaysia.
Remulla clarified that the aircraft never entered or departed Philippine airspace, and that the planned Manila stop would have been its first entry into the country. Laboratory results from Laos to confirm the chemical composition of the seized substance were still pending as of the briefing.
Ten of Eleven Persons of Interest Still at Large
Of the 11 persons of interest publicly named by the DILG, only Fahad Mulok Dibarosan — arrested in Laos — is currently in custody, according to Remulla. Nartatez noted that none of the named individuals are listed as wanted persons in the Philippines at this time.
Remulla said conspiracy charges may still be filed against those involved even though the delivery never reached its destination.
PNP Declares Zero Tolerance on Drug Links
In its official statement, the PNP said it is actively cooperating with PDEA and other government agencies through an inter-agency task group formed to establish the facts, identify all parties allegedly involved, and determine the scope of each individual's participation.
The PNP stated it will not tolerate any of its personnel being linked to illegal drug activities, and that both criminal and administrative proceedings will be pursued if the evidence warrants, with all conclusions to be grounded in due process.
By the Numbers
- ₱3.54 billion — PDEA's estimated street value of the intercepted shabu
- 521 kilograms — total weight of suspected shabu seized aboard the chartered Learjet
- 11 — persons of interest publicly named by the DILG
- 1 — person of interest currently in custody, arrested in Laos
- October 1, 2026 — date Lao authorities seized the drug-laden Learjet 55 at Luang Prabang International Airport
- October 13, 2026 — date Mendoza's relief and restrictive custody formally took effect
Why This Matters
The PDEA valued the intercepted narcotics at ₱3.54 billion, making this one of the largest drug shipments linked to alleged PNP involvement in recent years. The DILG's identification of a serving police officer as a key facilitator — accused of using her position to secure airport hangar access — raises serious concerns about law enforcement integrity in the Philippines' ongoing anti-drug campaign. With 10 of the 11 named persons of interest still at large, including the suspected financier believed to remain in the country, the investigation is far from concluded.
Source: breakingnewsnegor.com (Balita)