Slain drug lord’s lawyer shot dead

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A lawyer, who became controversial for defending a suspected drug lord, was killed in a gun attack in Capiz yesterday.

Edeljulio Romero was eating lunch at a cafeteria in Barangay Culasi, Roxas City when he was shot. He was declared dead on arrival at the Roxas Memorial Hospital.

Prior to the shooting, a woman claimed she was talking with Romero and that he removed his bullet-proof vest and instead wore a jacket. She said the gunman alighted from a sport utility vehicle and hid near tricycles parked at the scene before he approached Romero and shot him in the head.

Two men wearing white shirts reportedly served as lookouts.

Superintendent Dante Tayco, Roxas City police chief, said the suspects escaped on a gray SUV.

Romero was the lawyer of Melvin Odicta Sr., who according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was one of two top drug dealers operating in Iloilo. Odicta and his wife Meriam were shot dead shortly after they disembarked from a  roll-on-roll-off vessel at the Caticlan Jetty Port in August 2016.

Initial investigation showed Romero was in Roxas City to attend the court hearing of a certain Stephen Teves of Panay town, who is also facing a drug-related case.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police chief, said Romero was a ”high-value” drug target.