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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, December 15, 2016
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ILOILO City – The Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6 to release two of the three arrested sons of slain suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr.
The court found no ground for the continued detention of Darryl, 29, and Michael Odicta, 32, according to Atty. Isagani Pilaspilas, lawyer of the Odicta family.
RTC Branch 33’s under Judge Maria Theresa N. Enriquez-Gaspar granted the family’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus yesterday morning. PDEA complied with it, said Pilaspilas.
PDEA operatives arrested Darryl, Michael and elder brother Melvin Jr., 36, during a raid of their residence in Barangay Malipayon, City Proper on Dec. 8. They took the brothers to the agency’s detention facility in Fort San Pedro.
Among others, PDEA seized guns, shabu, ammunitions and money from the Odicta residence.
A writ of habeas corpus is used to bring a prisoner or detainee before the court to determine if that person’s imprisonment or detention is lawful. A habeas petition proceeds as a civil action against the State agent who holds the defendant in custody.
“Kun indi ma-satisfy ang korte sa explanation about detention and confinement sang petitioner, a writ of habeas corpus is issued para sa release sang sini nga tawo,” explained Pilaspilas.
On Dec. 10, two days after their arrest, the three Odicta brothers were charged by PDEA with maintaining a drug den and conspiracy to trade illegal drugs – acts prohibited by the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Pilaspilas said the Odictas will seek the dismissal of the charges filed before the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office.
Four house helpers present at the time of the raid were also arrested and charged – Alexander Yparosa, Paul Flores, Rio Pineda, and Rocky Odicta. According to PDEA deputy director Levi Ortiz, the four worked in the Odicta “drug den” in violation of Section 7 of the antidrug law.
Melvin Jr., on the other hand, was also charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosive. He was the subject of the raid.
PDEA raided the Odicta residence three months after Melvin Sr. and wife Meriam were killed by gunmen at the jetty port in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan in Aug. 29, 2016.
Investigators believed the killings were linked to illegal drugs but no suspects were identified or arrested.
Citing intelligence information, Ortiz said Melvin Jr. took over his parents’ illegal drug operation. The son, however, denied this.
Seized from the Odicta residence were 19 sachets of shabu; P300,000 cash; a .40-caliber pistol with ammunition; a grenade; a shotgun from Odicta residence security guard Elemio Dumalogdog; a .22-caliber revolver; a handheld radio; bank checks; and a joint passbook in the name of Melvin Sr. and wife Meriam./PN
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