ILOILO City – A retired police officer with ties to slain drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr. was shot to death by motorcycle-riding gunmen early morning yesterday in Barangay Villa Anita, City Proper.
The homebound 57-year-old Senior Police Officer 1 Ronaldo Alag, who was driving a white Nissan Urvan van, sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
He was slowing down on the intersection of Jalandoni and Delgdo streets when attacked around 8 a.m., according to Superintendent Jonathan Pablito, Police Station 1 chief.
The gunman and the man driving the motorcycle were wearing helmets and jackets. They hurriedly left.
“When the van slowed down and eventually stopped, the back rider got down then fired at Alag,” said Pablito.
Responding policemen recovered eight spent bullet shells of a .45 from the crime scene.
According to Iloilo City police director Senior Superintendent Martin Defensor, Alag was a high school classmate and close friend of slain drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr.
Alag retired in 2009 but in 2004 while still in the police service, he was listed as a drug protector in the Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), added Defensor.
He was believed to be Odicta’s bagman and also served as the drug lord’s runner, security officer and driver.
According to Superintendent Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6, Alag was classified a high-value target, level 2.
“Following Odicta’s death, Alag started selling illegal drugs. We view his killing as drug-related,” said Defensor.
As of this writing, no suspect had been named.
Odicta was shot to death by unidentified gunmen at the jetty port in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan on Aug. 29, 2016.
Alag’s brother, Barangay Captain Fernando Alag of Villa Anita, confirmed yesterday that his elder brother had ties with Odicta but that the retired policemen had reformed./PN
