Western Visayas PNP orders probe of killing of ex-cop with drug links

ILOILO CITY—The Western Visayas police has ordered an investigation of the killing of a retired police officer who had been linked to a slain drug lord.

Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police chief, directed investigators to identify and arrest the men involved in the ambush of SPO2 Rolando Alag on Nov. 20.

Supt. Joem Malong, regional police spokesperson, said investigation was ongoing and security footage were being used in the probe.

Two men aboard a motorcycle fired at the van driven by Alag in the village of Villa Anita here.

Malong confirmed that Alag was on the drug list of President Duterte as intelligence reports showed that the retired policeman was suspected of providing protection to the Odicta drug group.

“He is a high-value target identified as a protector,” Malong said.

Alag was the second drug suspect, who had links to slain drug lord Melvin Odicta, killed in a span of two months.

Lawyer Edeljulio Romero, lawyer of the Odictas, was shot dead in Roxas City, Capiz, on Sept. 28.

Odicta, the alleged leader of a drug gang that used to operate in Western Visayas, was killed with his wife, Meriam, at the Caticlan Jetty Port in August 2016. No suspect had been identified.

Alag entered the police service on Aug. 6, 1982. He was assigned to the Iloilo City police office until he availed himself of optional retirement on Jan. 31, 2009.