Suspected drug lord Odicta and wife die after being shot in Caticlan

Alleged drug lord Melvin Odicta and his wife Miriam died early Monday morning in Caticlan after they were shot by an unidenfied suspect, a report on Unang Balita said.

The two were shot a few meters away from the port after they disembarked from a RoRo vessel at Caticlan Jetty Port around 1:30 a.m., Philippine National Police spokesman Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos said, based on a report by Aklan Police Director PSSupt. John Jamili.

PNP Patrol cops rushed the couple to the nearest hospital, the Malay Municipal Hospital, but they were pronounced dead on arrival.

The PNP is already investigating the incident and pursuing the suspect.

Chief Supt. Jose Gentiles, acting regional director of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), told GMA News Online on Monday that the Odictas' associates may have been behind the crime.

"Looks like their protectors or big-time associates did them in, afraid that both disclosed something when they visited SILG [Secretary of Interior and Local Government] last Friday. That is the angle that we are looking at," he said.

Death threats

The Odicta couple, residents of Iloilo City, surrendered to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno on Thursday after receiving death threats.

The two are being linked to Dragon, a drug lord in Iloilo, Carlos said.

Sueno on Thursday said the couple gave their testimonies before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and presented confidential documents.

He said Odicta admitted that he was convicted in 1991 for illegal possession of a stick of marijuana but was able to shorten his sentence when the Dangerous Drugs Act was amended years later.

Sueno added that Odicta denied any involvement in illegal drug operations amid the accusation of some people in Iloilo that Melvin is “Dragon,” the drug lord in the province.

The Interior and Local Government secretary said the Odictas told him that their money came from their businesses.

PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa however refused to believe Odicta's statement that he is not a drug lord.

"Ano siya? Sinong niloloko niya? Kayo? Di ba alam ninyo na siya ang drug lord tapos magdi-deny na hindi siya drug lord? Tell it to the marines!" he added.

‘Mabait’

Their legal counsel Atty. Raymond Fortun, in a text message sent to GMA News Online on Monday, declined to be interviewed and said they are still gathering details. 

"Mabait po itong mag-asawa na ito. Please po, tutukan niyo itong killing na ito," Fortun said.

On Thursday, Fortun denied that Melvin surrendered to Sueno. —Amita Legaspi/KG, GMA News