Brothers of slain alleged drug lord Melvin Odicta nabbed in Iloilo

Authorities on Monday morning arrested two brothers of slain alleged drug lord Melvin Odicta in Iloilo City.

Police Regional Office 6 director Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said that a search warrant was served against brothers Noel and Jerry Odicta at around 5 a.m. in Barangay Tanza-Esperanza for illegal possession of firearms.

Noel is currently the barangay captain of Barangay Tanza-Esperanza.

Seized from Noel were a hand grenade, one .45 caliber pistol, two magazines and ammunition while recovered from Jerry’s possession were one .38 caliber revolver and ammunition.

Also arrested were: Abraham Orada, a retired army; Vic dela Peña, supposed helper of Noel; and Samuel Rubinas, a barangay kagawad of Tanza-Esperanza.

Bulalacao said Orada allegedly served as a security to Melvin.

Authorities recovered .45 caliber pistol with ammunition and one .38 caliber pistol with ammunition from Abraham.

Meanwhile, a certain Andrew Altas was shot dead after he fired at police operatives. Recovered from him was a .45 caliber pistol with ammunition.

“We encourage all those who continue to be involved in the trade of illegal drugs and other forms of criminalities to cease from their activities, surrender to authorities in the soonest time possible and refrain from putting up a fight against arresting police officers to avoid the unnecessary injury or death on the part of both suspects and authorities,” Bulalacao said.

Melvin and his wife were shot shot a few meters away from the Caticlan Jetty Port after they disembarked from a roll-on, roll-off vessel in August 2016.

The killings happened days after the couple surrendered to then-Interior Secretary Mike Sueno due to death threats they have been receiving.

They are being linked to Dragon, a drug lord in Iloilo. Odicta, however, denied that he is a drug lord, claiming that their money came from legitimate businesses. —JST, GMA News