ILOILO CITY — The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs is pushing for the recall of firearms of a suspected drug lord accused of attempting to forcibly enter a radio station in Iloilo City.
Sen. Grace Poe, the Senate committee chair, said all firearms of Melvin Odicta should be retrieved by authorities after the Philippine National Police revoked Odicta’s license to own and possess a firearm (LTOPF).
Odicta, his son and namesake Melvin Jr., Iloilo City village councilor Jesus “Jing-Jing” Espinosa Jr., and several unidentified persons are facing criminal complaints for the alleged attempted break-in of radio station Aksyon Radyo Iloilo on Nov. 19, 2015. The attempted break-in was captured in the footage of security cameras.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has identified Odicta as the leader of one of two drug groups operating in Iloilo City. The agency has also linked the attempted break-in to the radio station’s commentaries against illegal drugs.
Poe’s committee has held two public hearings to shed light on the attempted break-in and to determine appropriate legislative measures.
In a press conference during a campaign sortie here on Tuesday, Poe said her committee would press for an investigation and review on how Odicta was released from prison after his conviction for selling marijuana.
The PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) has revoked Odicta’s gun license and registration for 12 firearms including three assault rifles, five handguns, a 12-gauge shotgun and a machine pistol.
Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, a member of Poe’s committee, earlier raised questions on how Odicta was able to secure licenses and registration for his firearms despite previously being convicted for selling marijuana in 1989.
But Odicta, through one of his lawyers Edel Julio Romero, has questioned the PNP FEO order cancelling his license to own and possess a firearm, saying this was not yet final.
In a letter to Supt. Conrado Carganillo, chief of the Firearms and Explosives Unit (FEU) of the Police Regional Office 6 in Iloilo City, Romero said the order could still be appealed.
“There is no shortcut to the way of due process and such must be upheld by those who are directly part of the so-called pillars of justice,” Romero said his two-page letter dated Feb. 15.
Odicta has repeatedly denied allegations of being a drug lord. He also denied attempting to break in at the radio station, which was about 300 meters from a bar and restaurant that he owns.
He has claimed in his counter-affidavit that he went to the building where the station was located because he was intoxicated and had an “uncontrollable urge to pee.” SFM