"I have always been against the gangster as hero."
--Ruby Dee
By Alex P. Vidal
IT seems nobody is interested anymore to identify the real killers of Western Visayas' alleged drug lord Melvin "Boyet" Odicta Sr. alyas "Dragon" and his wife, Merriam.
No one from among his living lawyers (some of them have "disappeared" while another one had been murdered) and family is demanding for the reopening of the case or for further investigation.
Not a single relative or associate has come forward to demand "justice" for the double murders that, for a while, sent shock waves to major drug dealers and their minions in Panay Island and the entire Western Visayas for that matter.
Have they grudgingly accepted the couple's bizarre fate in silence without throwing a single punch in the arena of the justice system?
If they believed the couple was innocent and among the most prominent personalities victimized by extra-judicial killing (EJK) or summary execution in the infant stage of the Duterte administration, they should be making a noise and demanding for justice.
-o0o-
A lone gunman shot the Odicta couple as they alighted from a roll-on roll-off vessel at around 1:30 a.m. in Caticlan, Aklan on August 28, 2016.
Aside from the unidentified triggerman, several "back up" gunmen were believed to be on bard the vessel following the couple since the vessel left the Batangas port.
It was Merriam who was first fatally hit in the back and believed to have died before being rushed to the hospital.
Dragon, wounded on the leg, managed to call his lawyer Gualberto Cataluna over mobile phone.
Before being escorted to the hospital, policemen who arrived reportedly handcuffed Dragon.
Dragon was supposed to be brought to a Malay hospital but witnesses, including Cataluna, claimed policemen handcuffed him.
Minutes later, the man considered as "the most powerful and well-connected drug lord" in Western Visayas, was dead.
He had bullet wounds in the body and head, it was reported.
Before he died, Dragon witnessed how Merriam was peppered with bullets in the back.
The Odictas were officially declared dead on arrival in a Malay town hospital.
-o0o-
The couple was on the way to Iloilo from Manila where they were reported earlier to have "surrendered" to then Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno.
Some Ilonggos "credited" President Duterte and his then PNP chief and now Senator Ronald "Bato" De la Rosa for "putting away" a "big fish."
However, there were those who believed the Odictas were "silenced" by powerful people who have been protecting them and who reportedly "panicked" when they learned the Odictas had submitted a "list" to Sueno.
It was not known if Sueno, who resigned in 2017, gave the list to President Duterte.
Some of those who protected Dragon were allegedly politicians and police officials.
They haven't been named until today.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
Showing posts with label #druglord. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #druglord. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Monday, October 1, 2018
Judel Romero’s link with ‘Dragon’
“Even in killing men, observe the rules of propriety.”
--CONFUCIUS
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- The group behind the grisly murder of our friend, Atty. Edeljulio Romero, 50, probably won’t stop at nothing until all remaining tentacles of the disintegrating Odicta drug group in Western Visayas in the Philippines are wiped out.
Judel (this was how I called Atty. Romero) actually knew he was being targeted for murder the reason why he wore a bulletproof vest outside his residence or when he traveled anywhere in the country.
He wanted to travel incognito for security reasons and was always in the company of his partner, Irish Tan.
Although he was already lawyering for several accused in illegal drug cases even before he met slain suspected drug lord Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr. alyas “Dragon” in the late 90’s, Judel’s name was “tainted” when he was identified not only as Odicta’s lawyer but also reportedly as an “associate”.
Nobody has confirmed Judel’s other modes of “association” with Odicta aside from their lawyer-client relationship, but he was always reportedly spotted in Odicta’s residence and restaurant in Smallville frequently and attended in some important occasions “representing” Dragon.
-o0o-
I met the young Atty. Romero sometime in the early 90’s when he wasn’t yet Odicta’s lawyer.
He was then the lawyer of controversial Ajuy, Iloilo businessman Vicente “Etik” Espinosa, who was having some problem with the several firearms confiscated in his farm by elements of the Regional Police Office-6 (RPO-6).
It was Judel’s friendship with Etik Espinosa where he probably met Jesus “Jing-Jing” Espinosa, Etik’s nephew who lived at Barangay Monica Blumentritt, Iloilo City.
Jing-Jing is now detained at the Iloilo provincial jail in Pototan, Iloilo and was tagged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as “Odicta’s partner.”
Jing-Jing, whose wife, Keith “Dabing”, is the Barangay Monica Blumentritt village chief, is in jail for frustrated murder.
In one of our light conversations, Judel admitted to me he was using marijuana even when he was in high school but did not mention anything about shabu (crystal meth).
“I can’t understand why they prohibit marijuana when it is a plant and therefore created by God,” Judel, who attended mass at the Santa Teresita Parish in De Leon-Quezon St., Iloilo City every Sunday afternoon before he met Odicta, once said in jest.
Before his killing, Judel’s name had been eternally attached to Odicta in many ways and there was no mention of Odicta’s name without some authorities doubting he was taking advice directly from the bejeweled lawyer from Brgy. San Jose, Molo, Iloilo City.
-o0o-
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) National President Abdiel Fajardo, who denounced Judel’s killing, said lawyers should not be identified with the alleged crimes of their clients as stated by the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
In a statement, Fajardo said: “Romero’s murder must be denounced by all lawyers who adhere to the rule of law and who continue to uphold the primacy of the Constitution.”
When Judel and Irish decided to transfer residence from Iloilo City to Quezon City last year, the controversial lawyer would travel back in Western Visayas to attend the court hearings.
When he was killed in a street carinderia, shot on the temple by a lone walking gunman with cohorts waiting in a vehicle nearby, in Brgy. Culasi, Roxas City on September 28, Judel just came from the Roxas City Hall of Justice to attend the hearing of client, Stephen Teves, who was facing a case for illegal drugs.
We agree with Atty. Fajardo that the killing of Atty. Romero must be denounced by all those who adhere to the rule of law and not lex taliones.
We call on Capiz police provincial director, Senior Superintendent Canilo Fuentes, and Superintendent Dante Tayco, Roxas City police chief, to expedite the arrest of Judel’s murderers and file cases against them soon.
May you rest in peace, Judel.
--CONFUCIUS
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- The group behind the grisly murder of our friend, Atty. Edeljulio Romero, 50, probably won’t stop at nothing until all remaining tentacles of the disintegrating Odicta drug group in Western Visayas in the Philippines are wiped out.
Judel (this was how I called Atty. Romero) actually knew he was being targeted for murder the reason why he wore a bulletproof vest outside his residence or when he traveled anywhere in the country.
He wanted to travel incognito for security reasons and was always in the company of his partner, Irish Tan.
Although he was already lawyering for several accused in illegal drug cases even before he met slain suspected drug lord Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr. alyas “Dragon” in the late 90’s, Judel’s name was “tainted” when he was identified not only as Odicta’s lawyer but also reportedly as an “associate”.
Nobody has confirmed Judel’s other modes of “association” with Odicta aside from their lawyer-client relationship, but he was always reportedly spotted in Odicta’s residence and restaurant in Smallville frequently and attended in some important occasions “representing” Dragon.
-o0o-
I met the young Atty. Romero sometime in the early 90’s when he wasn’t yet Odicta’s lawyer.
He was then the lawyer of controversial Ajuy, Iloilo businessman Vicente “Etik” Espinosa, who was having some problem with the several firearms confiscated in his farm by elements of the Regional Police Office-6 (RPO-6).
It was Judel’s friendship with Etik Espinosa where he probably met Jesus “Jing-Jing” Espinosa, Etik’s nephew who lived at Barangay Monica Blumentritt, Iloilo City.
Jing-Jing is now detained at the Iloilo provincial jail in Pototan, Iloilo and was tagged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as “Odicta’s partner.”
Jing-Jing, whose wife, Keith “Dabing”, is the Barangay Monica Blumentritt village chief, is in jail for frustrated murder.
In one of our light conversations, Judel admitted to me he was using marijuana even when he was in high school but did not mention anything about shabu (crystal meth).
“I can’t understand why they prohibit marijuana when it is a plant and therefore created by God,” Judel, who attended mass at the Santa Teresita Parish in De Leon-Quezon St., Iloilo City every Sunday afternoon before he met Odicta, once said in jest.
Before his killing, Judel’s name had been eternally attached to Odicta in many ways and there was no mention of Odicta’s name without some authorities doubting he was taking advice directly from the bejeweled lawyer from Brgy. San Jose, Molo, Iloilo City.
-o0o-
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) National President Abdiel Fajardo, who denounced Judel’s killing, said lawyers should not be identified with the alleged crimes of their clients as stated by the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
In a statement, Fajardo said: “Romero’s murder must be denounced by all lawyers who adhere to the rule of law and who continue to uphold the primacy of the Constitution.”
When Judel and Irish decided to transfer residence from Iloilo City to Quezon City last year, the controversial lawyer would travel back in Western Visayas to attend the court hearings.
When he was killed in a street carinderia, shot on the temple by a lone walking gunman with cohorts waiting in a vehicle nearby, in Brgy. Culasi, Roxas City on September 28, Judel just came from the Roxas City Hall of Justice to attend the hearing of client, Stephen Teves, who was facing a case for illegal drugs.
We agree with Atty. Fajardo that the killing of Atty. Romero must be denounced by all those who adhere to the rule of law and not lex taliones.
We call on Capiz police provincial director, Senior Superintendent Canilo Fuentes, and Superintendent Dante Tayco, Roxas City police chief, to expedite the arrest of Judel’s murderers and file cases against them soon.
May you rest in peace, Judel.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Pray for Jing-Jing and Dabing
“Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.”
--Steven Wright
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) in the Philippines can’t blame the family and constituents of Monica-Blumentritt, Iloilo City Proper village chief Keith “Dabing” Espinosa and her husband, Jesus “Jing-Jing” Espinosa Jr., if they blame the police if something bad will happen to the Espinosa couple.
Chief Supt. John Bulalaco, the PRO-6 director, has been telegraphing their punches these past weeks.
First, Director Bulalacao has announced he would never meet with Dabing as long as her name is on the list of suspected drug lords.
Dabing, who is reportedly in hiding, had been wanting to see Director Bulalaco to clear her name but the top cop was quoted in media reports as saying, “I have no time for her.”
It’s understandable.
A Dirty Harry film once explicitly proclaimed that authorities aren’t supposed to compromise with the underworld.
-o0o-
Second, Director Bulalaco has revealed that Jing-Jing, now detained at the Iloilo Provincial Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo for frustrated murder, continued to engage in selling of illegal drugs and is using his family members, including Dabing, as fronts.
Director Bulalacao’s revelation on Jing-Jing’s jail activities was a palpable sign that the police could be wittingly or unwittingly trying to condition the public mind that the Espinosa couple has become incorrigible, ergo…
If we deeply analyze these two damning pronouncements coming from Western Visayas’ highest ranking police official, it seems they are harrowing indications of the portent of things to come.
God forbid.
Friends and family members should start praying for the couple’s safety.
-o0o-
We only wish that if the police have enough evidence against Jing-Jing and Dabing in their alleged continued involvement in illegal drug trade, proper charges should be immediately filed against them in court.
If there are pending cases in court against them, let the litigation continue and grind to its full conclusion.
At least that’s how the justice system in the Philippines works.
Let the judicial truth come out during the trial.
We can’t subject the controversial couple into an endless trial by publicity.
--Steven Wright
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) in the Philippines can’t blame the family and constituents of Monica-Blumentritt, Iloilo City Proper village chief Keith “Dabing” Espinosa and her husband, Jesus “Jing-Jing” Espinosa Jr., if they blame the police if something bad will happen to the Espinosa couple.
Chief Supt. John Bulalaco, the PRO-6 director, has been telegraphing their punches these past weeks.
First, Director Bulalacao has announced he would never meet with Dabing as long as her name is on the list of suspected drug lords.
Dabing, who is reportedly in hiding, had been wanting to see Director Bulalaco to clear her name but the top cop was quoted in media reports as saying, “I have no time for her.”
It’s understandable.
A Dirty Harry film once explicitly proclaimed that authorities aren’t supposed to compromise with the underworld.
-o0o-
Second, Director Bulalaco has revealed that Jing-Jing, now detained at the Iloilo Provincial Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo for frustrated murder, continued to engage in selling of illegal drugs and is using his family members, including Dabing, as fronts.
Director Bulalacao’s revelation on Jing-Jing’s jail activities was a palpable sign that the police could be wittingly or unwittingly trying to condition the public mind that the Espinosa couple has become incorrigible, ergo…
If we deeply analyze these two damning pronouncements coming from Western Visayas’ highest ranking police official, it seems they are harrowing indications of the portent of things to come.
God forbid.
Friends and family members should start praying for the couple’s safety.
-o0o-
We only wish that if the police have enough evidence against Jing-Jing and Dabing in their alleged continued involvement in illegal drug trade, proper charges should be immediately filed against them in court.
If there are pending cases in court against them, let the litigation continue and grind to its full conclusion.
At least that’s how the justice system in the Philippines works.
Let the judicial truth come out during the trial.
We can’t subject the controversial couple into an endless trial by publicity.
We can’t convict them through allegations, tough words and a public rebuke.
Even if they are known to be the “soldiers of the darkness”, suspects in the Philippines still have to avail of their rights under the Constitution to be heard in a competent court.
They are still innocent until proven otherwise.
Efforts must be pursued to secure them first before being brought to a fair trial.
Even if they are known to be the “soldiers of the darkness”, suspects in the Philippines still have to avail of their rights under the Constitution to be heard in a competent court.
They are still innocent until proven otherwise.
Efforts must be pursued to secure them first before being brought to a fair trial.
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