Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested the top most wanted person in Northern Luzon who was tagged in the 1997 killing of a local official in Ilocos Norte.
CIDG Chief Police Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. identified the arrested fugitive as Alex Cariaga, 43, of Barangay Divisoria Sur in Maddela, Quirino.
Cariaga was tagged as the suspect in the killing of Barangay Councilman Willy Agustin in June 1997 in Barangay Duripes in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
After the killing, Cariaga fled to his brother’s place in Quezon province and then to Maddela town in Quirino where he eluded justice for 15 years until recently when he was tracked by members of Community Investigative Support (CIS) in his hiding place.
Around 11 a.m. last Tuesday (June 20), members of Ilocos Norte CIDG and CIS volunteers have arrested Cariaga by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Conrado A. Ragucos of Regional Trial Court Branch 16, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte for murder.
The court has not recommended bail for Cariaga’s temporary liberty.
Region 1 CIDG chief Police Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina said Cariaga is listed as Most Wanted Person in Region 1 with a PhP75,000.00 bounty.
Cariaga is also listed as Number 3 in Ilocos Norte Most Wanted Persons based on the attached list of Provincial Anti-Private Armed Group Task Force in Ilocos Norte Target List involved in Shooting Incidents.
Divina added that, as a consequence of the attached Executive Order of the Governor of Ilocos Norte, the province has set aside a PhP20,000 for Cariaga’s arrest.
