BORACAY – The man who was arrested in this island resort over the weekend is affiliated with the slain alleged drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr., police said.
The 29-year-old Rommel “Mel-Mel” Quidato was currently detained at the Boracay police substation lockup facility.
He faces two criminal cases – Criminal Case No. 16-78041 for illegal drugs sale before the Regional Trial Court Branch 36 and Criminal Case No. 10-68835 for homicide before the Regional Trial Court Branch 31 both in Iloilo City.
Elements of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit caught Quidato in Sitio Tulubhan, Barangay Manoc-manoc around 3:15 p.m. on Sunday.
“Nakasuhan at nakulong din ang live-in partner ko [dahil] sa illegal drugs noong 2015. Na-raid ang aming boardinghouse sa Iloilo,” said Quidato – a resident of Veterans Village, City Proper, Iloilo City – after his arrest.
Police said Quidato was under the umbrella of Odicta Sr., who was killed with his wife in a shooting incident at Caticlan jetty port in Malay, Aklan in August 2016.
“Umuuwi din ako minsan sa Iloilo,” said Quidato who works as a tattoo artist in Boracay for almost a year now.
Quidato is listed as the No. 3 most wanted person in Iloilo City’s Police Station 1. He is also considered a high-value target there.
Police said he will be turned over to authorities in Iloilo City.
No bail bond was recommended for his temporary liberty./PN