The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs sought to determine the extent of Philippine involvement in the attempted smuggling of P3.5 billion worth of illegal drugs seized in Laos and bound for Manila aboard a chartered aircraft, as lawmakers pressed government agencies for updates on the investigation and measures to prevent similar shipments from entering the country.
The inquiry, chaired by Las Piñas Representative Mark Anthony Santos, also examined possible gaps in inter-agency coordination, particularly in monitoring private aviation and intercepting international drug shipments.
The committee hearing was conducted pursuant to House Resolution (HR) 1559, filed by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, and Santos, seeking to strengthen the country’s anti-drug smuggling measures, close regulatory gaps in private aviation, and enhance inter-agency and international coordination.
During the briefing, it was disclosed that cases have yet to be filed against the identified persons of interest involved in the Laos shipment, pending the receipt of official records relating to the seized illegal drugs.
The Committee directed relevant government agencies to submit updated written reports containing verified findings, validated information received from foreign counterparts, and details of actions taken, including referrals and coordination undertaken in connection with the investigation.
The panel also sought recommendations on immediate preventive measures that agencies could implement under their respective mandates to address vulnerabilities in the country’s anti-drug enforcement system.
Santos emphasized the need for stronger coordination among government agencies to ensure the effective detection, apprehension and interdiction of illegal drug shipments entering the Philippines.
“Nagiging problema po natin ngayon… PNP at PDEA lang po kung nagko-coordinate.”
“Nagiging problema po natin ngayon… PNP at PDEA lang po kung nagko-coordinate. So we need (a) task force para lahat po ng agencies, ma-harmonize ‘yung trabaho,” the legislator said during the meeting of the Committee.
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima and 1-Rider Party-list Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez also observed that the participation of other government agencies in the investigation appeared to be limited.
“The participation of other government agencies in the investigation appears to be limited.”
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, however, explained that the agency had already coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and other concerned agencies as part of a whole-of-government approach to the investigation.
Santos said he had already written to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. requesting the issuance of an order creating a National Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, similar to the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) established in 2017.
The committee also committed to examine the proposal of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla to include drug cartels in the list of terrorist groups, which would require amendments to Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
As part of its continuing legislative review, the panel requested recommendations on additional budgetary requirements for equipment, personnel training and information systems, as well as specific statutory amendments needed to strengthen the government’s capacity to combat international drug smuggling.
