Slain drug lord’s sister slain at Iloilo beach resort

ILOILO CITY — The sister of a slain drug lord was killed by gunmen in a beach resort in San Joaquin, Iloilo, Sunday, just hours before the brother of another big drug trafficker was arrested on gun charges.

Sr. Supt. Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo provincial police chief, said Bakhaw Barangay Captain Remia Prevendido-Gregori died of multiple gunshot wounds after armed men stormed her private beach resort.

Also killed in the attack was Analee Antipatria, a nanny of one of her grandchildren. Her husband, Bonifacio Gregori Sr., was wounded.

Prevendido-Gregori was the sister of Richard “Buang” Prevendido, who was shot and killed by police officers last year after resisting arrest. She herself was considered a suspected drug personality, but had denied the allegations.

On Monday morning, Tanza-Esperanza Barangay Captain Noel Odicta was arrested for illegal possession of firearms.

Odicta is the brother of Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr., who was killed by unidentified gunmen in August 2016. Authorities had named Boyet Odicta as one of two major drug traffickers operating in Western Visayas.

Barangay Captain Odicta was taken into custody after a police team found a .45 pistol and a grenade during a search of the family compound.

Andrew Altas, Odita’s brother-inlaw, was killed for allegedly firing at the police officers at the scene.

This latest development came less than a week after the first official visit of President Duterte to Iloilo City, which he has described as “shabulized” (in reference to shabu) and the “bedrock” of illegal drug trade.

During his speech at the convention of the Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL), Duterte again said that he would order the killing of former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog if Mabilog comes back to the country. Duterte has repeatedly claimed that Mabilog coddled the Odicta drug group, a claim Mabilog has vehemently denied.