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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Currently locked up at the detention facility of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6 in Fort San Pedro, the son and namesake of slain suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr. wanted to transfer jail.
Melvin Jr., 36, asked the Regional Trial Court, Branch 28 to order his transfer to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The young Odicta was arrested on Dec. 8, 2018. PDEA raided his house in Barangay Tanza Esperanza and recovered shabu and a grenade. He was subsequently charged with maintaining a drug den and illegal possession of explosive.
According to Atty. Isagani Pilas-pilas, his client filed a motion to transfer jail last month yet.
“Ang mga rasones didto ang health ‘ya, safety and security,” said Pilas-pilas.
The complaints PDEA filed against Melvin Jr. were still under the initial investigation phase in the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office.
“Although secure man s’ya dira sa detention cell sang PDEA, he opts nga didto s’ya ma-detain sa regular detention cell sa BJMP nga designated gid sang aton government para sa mga priso,” said Pilas-pilas.
The December raid also resulted to the arrest of Melvin Jr.’s two younger brothers Darryl, 29, and Michael, 32. However, the two were released. RTC Branch 33’s Judge Maria Theresa Enriquez-Gaspar granted their petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
Pilas-pilas said his client has health concerns.
“Gin examine s’ya sang doctor namon, damo s’ya ginabatyag…ipa-medical laboratory s’ya to be sure sang iya health safety,” he said.
Citing intelligence information, PDEA Region 6 deputy director Levi Ortiz said Melvin Jr. took over his parents’ illegal drug operation.
On Aug. 29, 2016 Melvin Sr. and wife Meriam were shot to death by gunmen at the Caticlan jetty port in Malay, Aklan. Investigators believed the killings were linked to illegal drugs but no suspects were identified or arrested.
Melvin Jr. denied being involved in their parents’ alleged illegal drugs business and insisted they were not keeping shabu in the house.
“After the death of the Odicta couple, there was really a lull in their illegal drug business. But lately we received information that Melvin Jr. was the one managing the business now. This was why we searched their house,” said Ortiz.
PDEA and the Philippine National Police tagged the slain Melvin Sr. as the drug lord Dragon operating in Iloilo city and province, and nearby provinces./PN
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