Authorities arrested Kalinga province’s No. 5 most wanted person, an alleged swindler and illegal recruiter facing eight arrest warrants for cases ranging from bouncing checks and estafa to carnapping and falsification of public documents.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said the suspect, identified only by the alias “Kara,” was arrested at around 3 p.m. on June 25, 2026, in Barangay Junction, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.
The manhunt operation was conducted by the CIDG Apayao Provincial Field Unit, Regional Intelligence Unit 14, and local police units.
Based on a report received by CIDG Director Police Major General Robert AA Morico II, “Kara” is a woman of legal age, a native of Gerona, Tarlac, and a resident of Barangay Junction.
Police said the suspect was arrested by virtue of eight warrants issued by courts in Quezon City, La Trinidad in Benguet, Pasig City, Pampanga, and Batangas from 2023 to 2026.
The warrants covered four cases involving a total of 26 counts of violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, or the Bouncing Checks Law; one case of illegal recruitment; one case of estafa; one case for violation of Republic Act No. 10883, or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016; and one case of falsification of public documents under Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code.
One of the warrants stemmed from an alleged illegal recruitment scheme in La Trinidad, Benguet.
According to police, the suspect allegedly approached a male victim in Pico, La Trinidad, between April and May 2023 and claimed she could process his deployment to Malaysia as an equipment operator.
“Kara” allegedly collected ₱40,000 from the victim for processing fees, visa application, and airfare.
After receiving the money, however, the suspect allegedly became unreachable through phone calls, mobile messages, and social media. The victim was never deployed for the promised overseas job.
The victim later sought assistance from the CIDG Benguet Provincial Field Unit, which verified the case with the Department of Migrant Workers.
The DMW found that the suspect had no license or authority to recruit workers for overseas employment, prompting CIDG Benguet to file a complaint that later led to the issuance of an arrest warrant.
The CIDG credited the arrest to Police Lieutenant Colonel Brendon B. Palisoc, officer-in-charge of CIDG Regional Field Unit 14, and the CIDG Apayao Provincial Field Unit led by Police Lieutenant Bonigil G. Marcelino.
The agency said the operation stopped the suspect’s alleged scheme and helped protect other potential victims.
The CIDG said the manhunt was part of its intensified campaign against wanted persons and fugitives, in line with the program thrust of Philippine National Police chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.