Trader tagged as drug lord ‘Dragon,’ wife shot dead in Aklan

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—An Iloilo businessman and his wife were shot dead early Monday at the port in Caticlan, Aklan province two days after Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa confirmed that Melvin Odicta was the drug lord in Iloilo popularly known as “Dragon.”

Melvin and his wife Meriam were identified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority through the identification cards recovered from them, according to Senior Supt. John Mitchelle Jamili, Aklan police director, in an interview over RMN dyRI in Iloilo.

He said the couple were walking at the walkway of the port terminal from the roll-on roll-off vessel around 1:30 a.m. when they were shot by the unknown assailants.

Jamili said the couple were brought to Malay District Hospital in Aklan but were declared dead by the attending physician.

The Odicta couple earlier sought help from Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueño and denied that they were into the illegal drug trade.

Dela Rosa, however, dismissed the denial and identified Melvin as “Dragon,” the biggest drug lord in Iloilo. RAM/rga

READ: Bato: Iloilo trader is drug lord ‘Dragon’