ILOILO CITY – An alleged top partner of the slain drug lord Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr. has surrendered here.
Jesus “Jing Jing” Espinosa Jr., a village councilor of Barangay Monica-Blumentritt, finally surrendered Tuesday after evading arrest during a raid in his house by the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Group under Police Regional Office (PRO-6) last October 2.
Seized from Espinosa’s house were hordes of high-powered firearms and suspected shabu. He was convicted of murder and served time at the New Bilibid Prison but was reportedly granted pardon later on by then President Joseph Estrada.
Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles, PRO-6 director, assured Espinosa that his life will be protected if he surrenders to law enforcement authorities.
Espinosa is said to have established closed ties with Odicta and was even present in the incident when the deceased alleged drug lord tried to attack Aksyon Radyo Iloilo last November 2015.
Odicta and his wife Miriam were killed by unknown assailants late August in Caticlan. (Tara Yap)