Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced suspicions that pilot Rioklyn “Boyet” Pizzaras Toledo previously smuggled illegal drugs into the country inside coffins, leveraging his air ambulance service.
Remulla revealed in an ANC Headstart interview that Toledo allegedly procured the aircraft in Malaysia linked to the P3.5-billion worth of shabu (methamphetamine) recently intercepted in Laos en route to the Philippines.
” Si Boyet Toledo, siya yung nag-procure ng flight from Malaysia to Laos to the Philippines. Siya yung nagpunta sa Malaysia,” Remulla said.
” Toledo runs an air ambulance service. We suspect he has flights to Thailand, Malaysia air ambulance.Nagpi-pickup siya ng cadaver. Ang suspect namin ang dating operations niya ay naglalagay siya ng drugs sa loob ng mga kabaong para dalhin dito sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang nahuhuli, hindi naman dumadaan ang aso sa box ng patay.”
Remulla believes this coffin-concealment method was the group’s original modus operandi before they attempted the new Laos-to-Philippines route.
Toledo remains in the Philippines and is considered a person of interest.
No formal charges have been filed yet against the individuals linked to the Laos drug bust as the tripartite investigation between the Philippines, Laos, and Malaysia continues.
Toledo has previously denied all allegations, asserting that he voluntarily surfaced and contacted authorities to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.# (ZIA LUNA)
