PNP: 3 persons of interest in Laos-PH drug smuggling have yet to appear to authorities

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Three persons of interest in the investigation into an alleged drug smuggling operation involving Laos and the Philippines have yet to appear before authorities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

“Meron pa pong tatlo hindi nagpapakita,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said at a press conference.

(There are still three who are not showing up.)

“We will give you all the details and of course, lalo na kapag umabot na po tayo sa point where we have transmitted the case or we have filed the case ay doon po natin malalaman lahat ng lumabas po,” he added.

(We will give you all the details and of course, especially when we reach the point where we have transmitted the case or we have filed the case, we will know all the results.)

Co said the three individuals have yet to respond to the call to appear before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and provide their statements.

Authorities are urging them to cooperate with investigators, warning that failure to appear could lead to the filing of an indirect contempt case.

The CIDG is handling the investigation and the gathering of statements from persons of interest, following a case conference between the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The two agencies have agreed on the division of tasks as they pursue the investigation, according to Co.

Investigators are conducting criminal and financial investigations with assistance from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

The PNP said authorities are currently evaluating the evidence for the joint transmittal of the case by the PNP and PDEA.

Investigators are also awaiting the official transmission of case files from Laos and Malaysia.

On October 1, Lao authorities thwarted P3.5 billion in illegal drugs on a private plane headed to the Philippines.

The PNP issued subpoenas to 11 persons of interest. — BAP, GMA News