City
Councilor Erwin Plagata vowed to resign if anyone
could present substantial evidence that would
positively link him to the protection of illegal
drug trade in the city. Though he was not directly
implicated by Justice Secretary Gonzalez Sr.,
when he said a city councilor is also one of the
drug protectors, Plagata felt he was the councilor
being alluded to. Chairman of the committee on
police matters, Plagata said someone, who had
yearned to destroy his name before Gonzalez, designed
the allegation that he has connections with a
certain "Odicta," whom Gonzalez said
was one of the persons involved with illegal drug
trade in the city. Gonzalez, who expressed intention
of wiping out illegal drugs in the city, said
in a previous interview that several police officers
were not the only ones involved with drug coddling,
but were also joined in by a city councilor. He
however did not name the latter.
Gonzalez said an intelligence team from the DOJ
will be conducting the investigation against these
persons. The results will then be used in the
DOJ's decision making. In line with his commitment
against illegal drugs, Gonzalez reportedly earlier
sent a directive to Police Regional Director Isagani
Cuevas that orders for the cleansing of the police
rank from illegal drugs. Just last week, Gonzalez
confirmed that he met with officials from the
PNP's Firearms and Explosives Division and ordered
for the review of firearm documents of "Odicta."
He said he has received reports that this Odicta,
who is involved with drug trade in the city, possesses
numerous firearms, which he is not sure if licensed.
Lawyer of Melvin Odicta, Edeljulio Romero, said
if Gonzalez was referring to his client, who owns
among others a taxi business in the city, they
are very much ready to submit the former to an
investigation that Gonzalez was saying. However,
Romero denied that his client is engaged with
drug-related business other than those he presently
manages.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( PDEA ) Regional
Chief Roybel Sanchez, refused to affirm that a
certain Odicta is one of the drug personalities
in Iloilo City. He however claimed that Barangay
Malipayon, City Proper, where Melvin Odicta resides,
is one of the drug-infested areas and serve as
one of the targets of their anti-illegal drugs
operation. the targets of their anti-illegal drugs
operation.
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