By Jennifer P. Rendon
The gunman responsible for the killing of a fruit vendor in Pavia, Iloilo, was arrested shortly after midnight on October 8.
Kareem Jacosalem, 39, of Barangay Jereos, La Paz, Iloilo City, was arrested while loitering in Barangay Rizal, Lapuz.
Jacosalem quickly admitted to shooting and killing Wilfredo Batican, a fruit vendor from NHA Balabag, Pavia, on the afternoon of October 5.
Jacosalem implicated Aljon Divino as the person who hired him for the murder.
Divino, who was driving the motorcycle seen with Jacosalem, remains at large as of press time.
Police had previously identified Divino as one of two motorcycle-riding suspects involved in Batican’s killing, based on CCTV footage showing his leg tattoo.
The identity of Divino’s companion remained unknown until police arrested Alan Torpio in a drug bust at Gen. Hughes St., City Proper, Iloilo City, on the evening of October 7.
Divino is Torpio’s nephew.
Notably, Torpio is the younger brother of Rolando Torpio, also known as “Apa” or “Striker,” a former sub-group leader of the Odicta Drug Group.
Apa, a known henchman of slain suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta, was arrested for a drug-related offense on June 22, 2017, and is now incarcerated at New Bilibid Prison.
Jacosalem is married to Apa’s daughter.
During interrogation, police asked Torpio if he was involved in Batican’s death, as his build resembled the gunman’s.
Torpio then revealed that Jacosalem was the one who carried out the hit.
Before this, Pavia police had received information that the gunman might be in Barangay Rizal, Lapuz, or San Antonio, Molo, Iloilo City.
Pavia PNP, along with the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6 and Iloilo City Police Stations 1 and 2, conducted surveillance in the area.
A police operative spotted Jacosalem acting suspiciously, according to Pavia Police Chief Captain Fernando Delima.
When officers approached him, Jacosalem attempted to flee.
After a short chase and struggle, police apprehended Jacosalem.
He confessed that he killed Batican on Divino’s orders.
Delima said the Torpios targeted Batican because they believed he was a police asset.
“Our operations in Pavia have apparently crippled their illegal drug trade,” Delima said, referring to Apa’s group.
However, Delima clarified that Batican was not a police informant.
Batican, 42, was shot while drinking soda at his roadside fruit stand in the presence of his wife and their seven-year-old daughter.
