CEBU CITY — The alleged killer of a Korean national was arrested Wednesday night inside a hostel in Barangay Apas here during a joint operation by members of the Mabolo and Consolacion police stations.
On Thursday, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Senior Supt. Royina Garma presented to the media the suspect, Jessie Casada, whom authorities believe shot dead Young Ho Lee inside a motel in Barangay Mabolo last August 26.
Garma commended the Mabolo Police Station, headed by Chief Inspector Dindo Juanito Alaras, for the arrest of Casada, who was seen in the company of the Korean by a witness.
The CCPO chief said investigators conducted a background check and learned that Casada has two pending warrants of arrest and os in the Top 10 Most Wanted list of the Consolacion Police Station.
Alaras said the 35-year-old Casada hails from Consolacion, Cebu but constantly moves from one place to another to avoid detection and arrest.
The tracker team, however, finally learned of Casada’s whereabouts on Tuesday when his live-in partner and later his mother were spotted entering the hostel in Barangay Apas.
Alaras said they immediately coordinated with Consolacion Police commander Chief Insp. Ace Gerard Pelare and jointly carried out the operation.
Seized from the suspect during the serving of the warrants were several packs of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” with an estimated value of PHP350,000, some analgesic ampules of nalbuphine hydrochloride, and drug paraphernalia.
Casada also yielded two .45 caliber pistols, which Garma said will be turned over for ballistic examination to determine whether the firearms have been used in other killing incidents in Cebu.
Arrested with Casada were his live-in partner Arlene Soquilon, 46, and her teenaged child.
Alaras said Casada most likely killed the Korean out of suspicion that his girlfriend had an affair with the foreigner. (Luel Galarpe/PNA)
