THE younger brother of suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr., who was slain together with his wife Meriam Odicta by unknown assailants last August 29 at the Caticlan jetty port in Aklan, had asked for forgiveness and reconciliation from people who may be harmed by his sibling.
Barangay Tanza Esperanza village chief Noel Odicta said his brother Melvin Sr., known in the underworld as “Dragon”, may have lived a life by the gun but remains a good brother to his family and friends.
The bodies lay at state in their house at Barangay Malipayon and would be buried on Sunday, September 11.
The village chief said he could not identify some of those who came but said they testified on the goodness of “Dragon” in helping them financially to seek medical treatment and other needs.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) and police authorities identified Melvin Sr. as the top drug lord in Western Visayas who had connections to suspected big-time drug lord of Eastern Visayas, Kerwin Espinosa, son of Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte.
In a radio interview over the weekend, Albuera chief of police Chief Inspector Joy Espenido said the Espinosas of Leyte and Cebu are related by blood to the Espinosas of Iloilo.
The relation may explain the presence of a beach house owned by Kerwin in Boracay Island, suspected as the meeting place of drug lords in Iloilo and Leyte.
However, Jesus “Jing” Espinosa, son of the late Congressman Pascual Espinosa, said their family tree does not include the Espinosas of Leyte and Cebu.
“Jing” is the father of “Jingjing” Espinosa, reported by Pdea and the police as a trusted man of Melvin Odicta Sr. in their drug operation in Iloilo. (LCP/Sunnex)