PNP to look into Odictas’ ‘drug matrix’

Neighbors and employees of the slain suspected drug lord, Melvin Odicta, and wife Meriam view their remains at the Odicta residence in Barangay Malipayon in Iloilo City. (Photo by Nestor P. Burgos Jr./INQUIRER VISAYAS)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa will ask the family of slain alleged drug lord Melvin Odicta and his wife Meriam to cooperate with the police as they look into the reported “drug matrix” of the couple with the names of government executives linked to drugs.

“Kausapin ko ‘yung mga anak na nandoon (sa Iloilo) na mag-cooperate na rin sila fully kung mayroong matrix at ibigay sa atin (I will talk to their children in Iloilo to cooperate fully [with the police] if there is a matrix and ask them to give it to us). I will ask (Chief Supt. Jose Gentiles) to talk to the children,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference at Camp Crame on Thursday.

But the couple’s lawyer Raymond Fortun denied that the Odictas have a drug matrix, which allegedly contains names of senators, congressmen and local officials, to ”rattle those who had earlier been named in the President’s list, or to justify their deaths and even the death of Odicta’s lawyers.”

The Odicta family on Wednesday said they will not file any case or press for an investigation on the deaths of Melvin and Meriam despite speculation that the killing was carried out by the police.

READ: Odicta clan: We will not sue over deaths, we want peace

But Dela Rosa said the PNP will pursue its investigation. Western Visayas regional police have formed a special investigation task group to look into the killings, track down, and arrest the assailants.

“Mag-investigate pa rin kami kasi that’s a crime, murder. Mag-investigate kami kahit hindi sila interesado. Dapat malaman namin ang puno’t dulo (We will still investigate because that’s a crime, murder. We will still investigate even if the family is not interested. We should trace the roots.),” Dela Rosa said.

It would be negligence on the part of the police if they would not conduct a probe, Dela Rosa said.

Authorities tagged Melvin as “Dragon,” the head of an illegal drug syndicate operating in Iloilo and other parts of Western Visayas.

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

Melvin and Meriam were gunned down after they alighted from a roll-on roll-off vessel at the Caticlan port in Aklan province early Monday./rga

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