ILOILO CITY (Updated) -- A suspected drug lord and his wife, considered as the biggest illegal drug financers in Western Visayas, were shot dead at Caticlan port in Malay, Aklan, Monday morning, August 9.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Dionardo Carlos said Melvin Odicta Sr. and his wife, Miriam Regalado Odicta, just alighted from a roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessel at the Caticlan Jetty Port when shot around 1:30 a.m. Monday.
The couple came from Manila and took the RoRo vessel from Batangas Port on August 28. They were supposed to go home to Iloilo City, which is about 250 kilometers away from Caticlan.
Aklan police said Miriam sustained gunshot wounds at the back, while Melvin was hit in the legs.
Melvin's lawyer, Gualberto Cataluna, said that his client was still alive and even called him to report that he was hit in the legs. But the couple were declared dead on arrival at the Malay Municipal Hospital.
Police said that aside from the gunshot wound in the legs, Melvin was also hit in the head and body.
With the couple at the RoRo were two personal assistants who carried their luggage and personal belongings. Four other companions, including their son, Melvin Jr., and two vehicles were left behind at the Batangas Port after police discovered three firearms inside their vehicles.
Cataluna said the couple was supposed to be fetched by their lawyers, as they no longer have safe vehicles to ride.
He said the Odictas have no pending charges before any court in Western Visayas, adding that they were engaged in several legitimate businesses in Iloilo.
Cataluna said the couple owns taxi units, shuttle vans, two restaurants, fishponds in northern Iloilo, water refilling station, and internet café, among others.
The Aklan police are still investigating the incident.
As of 12 noon, Senior Superintendent John Mitchell Jamili, Aklan provincial police chief, said in a television interview that they have no witnesses yet.
He said they are coordinating with the Caticlan port authority to check on closed circuit television camera footage that could help identify the gunmen.
The Caticlan port is the gateway to the famous tourist island of Boracay in northern Aklan. It is some four hours ride to Iloilo City.
Last Thursday, August 25, the Odictas presented themselves before Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno in Camp Crame, after they failed to meet PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa, who was in Bacolod City on that day.
The couple told Sueno that they are receiving threats after they were implicated in the illegal drug trade.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency identified Melvin as the "Dragon" who heads two of the most wanted drug syndicates in Iloilo.
Sueno reportedly told the couple during their meeting at Camp Crame to explain their side and present their own illegal drug matrix to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Odicta's legal counsel, Raymond Fortun, said he is still gathering details on the shooting incident Monday. He urged the police to investigate the killings.
He said the couple's remains will be brought to Iloilo City immediately.
Sought for comment, President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged the death of the Odictas as their “bad luck” for having been involved in the illegal drug trade in Iloilo City.
Speaking to reporters in Catbalogan, Samar, on Monday, Duterte said it could not be denied that Melvin was the top drug lord in his area.
“I cannot say anything – good or bad – because that (being involved in drugs) was his choice… He’s already dysfunctional,” Duterte said, when sought for reaction on Odicta’s death.
“Odicta was really being hunted. In Iloilo, he was the number one [drug lord so] he had really met his bad luck,” he added. (With reports from Ruth Abbey Gita/Sunnex)