Senate opens probe into 'attack' on Iloilo radio station
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs on Tuesday conducted its investigation on the attempt of alleged members of a local drug syndicate to attack a radio station in Iloilo.
"Nais nating ipakita na ang ating laban kontra iligal na droga ay walang pinipiling lugar o siyudad o probinsya, walang pinipiling personalidad, walang pinipiling oras at walang atrasan," Sen. Grace Poe said in her opening speech.
Poe noted that the Senate panel first conducted a legislative meeting on Dec. 10, 2015 to gather facts on the incident.
During the legislative meeting, Aksyon Radyo Station Manager John Paul Tia presented CCTV footages showing almost 20 armed men who were in the premises of the radio station but failed to enter the building.
The leader of the armed men removed one CCTV camera before fleeing. Three of the men were identified as Melvin Odicta Sr., the group's leader, Melvin Odicta Jr., his son, and Jesus Espinosa, a barangay kagawad of Monica-Blumentritt, Iloilo City.
Members of the media questioned the released of Odicta Sr. and Espinosa as it seems "not to be in order for lack of proper documents to back it up."
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported on the status of illegal drugs in Iloilo. Members of the media, however, insisted that the problem on illegal drugs persists in the province despite PDEA's report.
Tia expressed his disappointment over the Philippine National Police's failure to resolve the cases of harrassment committed against the radio station.
The Aksyon Radyo station manager also claimed that local drug syndicates have people inside the local police, Poe said.
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