Odicta ‘henchman’ slain in sting

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — An alleged henchman of slain drug personality Melvin Odicta Sr. was killed in an anti-drug operation in Buenavista, Guimaras on Sunday night.

Jose Solon, alias Tatay Joe, allegedly pulled out a gun and shot at the police officers following a sting in Barangay  Sto. Rosario.

Solon reportedly sold a sachet of shabu worth P500 to an undercover agent who went to his house at around 8 p.m.

He was declared dead on arrival in a hospital due to gunshot wounds in the chest and abdomen.

Solon reportedly used to work for Odicta in Iloilo, but transferred his illegal activity in Guimaras after the alleged drug lord was killed in a police operation early this year, according to Senior Inspector Kenneth Bermejo, team leader of Western Visayas-Drug Enforcment Unit.

4 killed in Luzon

Meanwhile, unidentified men shot dead three suspected drug users in San Pablo City, Laguna on Sunday night.

Jessie Carabio, who was on the drug list of the city police, and his companions Henry Rubina and Ramon Malones were declared dead on arrival in a hospital, according to Superintendent Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesperson for the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police.

Witnesses said the assailants, who were wearing face masks, escaped on foot after the killing that occurred in an alleged drug den in Barangay San Ignacio. 

In Bulacan, drug suspect Michael Estillore, alias Ganie, was killed after he allegedly exchanged fire with police officers in Obando town yesterday morning.

Authorities reportedly recovered from Estillore a .38 caliber revolver, 10 plastic sachets said to contain shabu and marked money, according to Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director.  – With Ed Amoroso, Ramon Efren Lazaro