Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stepped before cameras at the Presidential Communications Office in Malacañang on Friday, October 16, to put a name to what had previously been described only as a "Mindanao-based politician" — identifying former Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) member Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang as the alleged financier of a thwarted drug shipment from Laos to the Philippines.
A Philippine National Police link diagram, broadcast by state television network RTVM during the Malacañang briefing, placed Rimbang — listed under the alias "Sultan" — at the center of a web of individuals connected to the attempted smuggling operation, according to the PNP presentation.
What the PNP Diagram Shows
The investigative chart links Rimbang to the drug shipment through his wife, relatives, an alleged consignee, the parties who arranged the charter flight, and a police officer. Both Rimbang and the alleged consignee — identified in the diagram as Abdulahkarim K. Macalatas — share the same listed address: 314 Bautista St., Macalatas Bldg., Quiapo, Manila.
It must be noted that inclusion in a PNP link diagram is an investigative tool, not a determination of guilt. As of press time, no formal charges had been announced against Rimbang. Kuryente News, which reported on the briefing, said it sought a response from Rimbang but received none.
Drug Bust at Luang Prabang Airport
Lao authorities seized the drugs on October 1 at Luang Prabang International Airport, pulling 521 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine — packed across 500 separate packages — from luggage bound for a 1986 Bombardier Learjet 55B carrying the US registration N73GP.
Thirteen individuals were detained in connection with the bust, among them members of the aircraft crew as well as airport and ground-handling personnel, based on accounts from the Malacañang briefing.
Malaysian police disclosed that the jet had departed empty from Subang, Malaysia, before landing in Luang Prabang, where it was to pick up the drug cargo and proceed to Manila. The charter flight was booked on September 23 for US$49,500, with the declared cargo listed as vape products. Philippine authorities have valued the seized drugs at ₱3.54 billion at street prices.
Also named in the PNP diagram is Fahad Mulok Dibarosan, a Filipino from Marawi City, who was arrested in Laos and continues to be held there.
PDEA Had Signaled a Political Figure the Day Before
A day earlier, on Thursday, October 15, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut disclosed that the agency had already zeroed in on a Mindanao politician as the financier — stopping short of naming him publicly. Calulut said the politician had personally covered the US$49,500 charter fee, equivalent to roughly ₱3.1 million, and is affiliated with a political party in opposition to the Marcos administration.
The PDEA further said the politician had maintained contact with the Sam Gor syndicate, a criminal organization described as a major producer and distributor of methamphetamine across the region.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said on Friday that the alleged financier had a prior record involving illegal drug cases. Remulla added at the same briefing that the National Bureau of Investigation is currently looking into 11 persons and entities of interest tied to the case.
Rimbang's Background in Bangsamoro Politics
Rimbang was appointed to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019, serving as a member of the interim Bangsamoro Parliament. He subsequently ran as a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino candidate for the Lanao del Sur 1st parliamentary district and reportedly lost in the region's inaugural parliamentary elections, held on September 14, 2026.
Charges Expected Soon
The PDEA said it is actively preparing cases against those implicated and expects to file charges within the coming days, Remulla announced at the Malacañang briefing.
By the Numbers
- 521 kg — total weight of crystal methamphetamine seized at Luang Prabang International Airport on October 1
- 500 packages — number of packs the drugs were divided into
- 13 individuals — detained in Laos, including crew members and airport staff
- US$49,500 (≈ ₱3.1 million) — charter fee allegedly paid by the financier, booked September 23
- ₱3.54 billion — estimated street value of the seized drugs, as placed by Philippine authorities
- 11 persons and entities — currently under NBI examination in connection with the case
- February 2019 — when Rimbang was appointed to the BTA by then-President Duterte
Why This Matters
Philippine authorities have placed the shipment's street value at ₱3.54 billion, making it one of the largest single shabu interdictions linked to a Philippine political figure. The PDEA has disclosed that the alleged financier maintained contact with the Sam Gor syndicate, indicating that Philippine authorities are pursuing connections to one of Asia's most significant drug organizations. The alleged destination of the charter flight being Manila, combined with the former BTA member's named involvement, raises questions about transnational drug networks with links to Philippine political institutions, according to disclosures made at the Malacañang briefing.
Source: Kuryente News