Serenio: Odicta planned to raise funds for Roxas’ 2016 campaign
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A new affidavit recently released by former Berya drug group bagman Ricky Serenio named 2016 Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Mar Roxas, Senator Franklin Drilon, and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who has been out of the country since the end of August, as protectors of slain drug lord Melvin Odicta, Sr.
In an email late Wednesday evening, he called Roxas and Drilon “political patrons” of Mabilog, claiming the mayor was protecting Odicta because the drug lord was Drilon’s nephew. He went on to assert, as a close ally of former President Benigno S. Aquino III and previously serving as senate president, Drilon has the capability of controlling the Iloilo City drug ring, allegations Serenio claimed were “public knowledge.”
He noted, with Roxas, Drilon, and Mabilog all belonging to the same party, referring to Iloilo City during the 2016 election as “pro-yellow,” the former drug group associate said it was “obvious” the former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary was backing the local drug trade.
Serenio claimed, in 2015, he met with Odicta, who discussed the “flourishing” illegal drug market in the then-Negros Island Region (NIR).
He said it was Roxas and Drilon pushing for Odicta to expand into the neighboring island, with Mabilog as a supporting partner.
The plan was reportedly to conquer Bacolod City first, then move throughout the island.
He also said Odicta wanted to expand his network in order to raise funds for Roxas’ 2016 presidential campaign.
Serenio noted, beyond a larger illegal drug network, he said Roxas previously met with then-Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director-General Marcelo Garbo on raising more funds, pointing out, Garbo’s wife, Atty. Rosalinda Garbo, was a “lawyer of notorious drug lords.”
Serenio said he was chosen to cooperate because of his links with Negros Occidental drug lords Berya Tolentino and Mohamed Camaria, whom he said Odicta planned to overthrow.
He, meanwhile, recalled two incidents, one involving the September 2015 arrest of Police Officer 3 (PO3) Ronaldo Baltazar and 33 others for protecting local drug dens; along with the July 2013 raid involving drug lord Jackson Dy, where several sacks of suspected shabu and P20 million were reportedly seized.
Serenio added, when asked about the raids, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) head, Police Senior Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, claimed no money was found and the sacks only contained “candies.”
He noted, these specific incidences were highlighted by news personality Anthony Taberna, who referred to the practice as “shabu recycling,” wherein seized drugs are recirculated back into the market by police.
The former drug group associate implicated Roxas in the matter, noting, in his role as then-DILG secretary, he ordered an end to the investigation into the said raid.
“This action of Roxas then became a signal to the PNP to engage in the drug trade,” Serenio stated.
Serenio referred to his revelations as helping President Rodrigo Duterte in the war on illegal drugs; adding, had Roxas won the presidency, Negros Occidental would have become a bigger hotbed for illegal drugs than Iloilo and Leyte.
Earlier this year, Serenio was arrested by members of the now-defunct Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) after he was tracked down in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
Serenio later submitted affidavits and provided intelligence into the Negros Occidental drug trade, including links between several high-ranking police officers and the Berya-Camaria drug group./DGB, WDJ