Vapes and cigarettes? Cop denies knowledge of Laos drug shipment try

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The policewoman who was reportedly linked with the attempted smuggling of P3.5 billion worth of shabu from Laos to the Philippines said she had no knowledge that the shipment contained illegal drugs.

During the Senate committee on public services, Police Master Sergeant Aileen Jane Mendoza admitted that she looked for an aircraft that could be rented to transport the cargo, but she believed it only contained vapes and cigarettes.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the committee, asked the police officer if she knew that such shipment was illegal.

"Ang alam ko po, Mr. Chair, may kaukulang requirements po na magbabayad po kung sino ang consignee dito sa atin sa Pilipinas," said Mendoza, who attended the hearing online.

(What I know, Mr. Chair, is that there were corresponding requirements that must be paid by the consignee here in the Philippines.)

"Wala naman pong facilitation na nangyari sa ginawa ko. Ang ginawa ko po kasi, naghanap po ako ng aircraft na mare-rentahan. Regarding sa facilitation, hindi na po kasi ako ang taong in charge du'n after ko maghanap ng aircraft," she added.

(There was no facilitation in what I did. What I did was look for an aircraft to rent. After that, my job was done and I was no longer in charge of the facilitation.)

Mendoza also said she did not inform her supervisor, Police Colonel Joanna Zarcilla, regarding the chartered flight that was supposed to arrive in Manila from Laos.

Tulfo said Zarcilla should be investigated as well, while recommending her suspension pending the result of the probe.

The senator expressed belief that there may be a conspiracy among those involved in the processing of chartered flights.

"Ang pinag-uusapan natin dito ay bilyon—P3.54 billion. Hindi ako maniniwala na walang sabwatan dito hanggang sa kataas-taasan diyan kung saan mang ahensyang involved sa pag-process nitong chartered flights," Tulfo said.

(We are talking about billions here—P3.54 billion. I won't believe that there is no collusion, all the way to the very top, within the agencies involved in the processing of these chartered flights.)

"Hindi ako maniniwala na 'yung sarhento lamang ang involved. Meron pa," he added.

(I won't believe that only the sergeant is involved. There are other more.)

To recall, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla identified the Mindanao politician allegedly involved in the attempted drug smuggling as former Bangsamoro Parliament member Edriezan Hadji Nasser Rimbang.

Remulla had said Rimbang allegedly paid Mendoza for the landing rights and the private hangar where the plane was supposed to land from Laos in the last week of September.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Mendoza has been relieved from her post and is now under restrictive custody at the Aviation Security Group.

Rimbang, meanwhile, denied involvement in the attempted drug smuggling. — VDV, GMA News