Pangasinan town’s most wanted fugitive fall in Tarlac

Col. Renante Cabico (2nd from far left) discusses anti-criminality and related matters with other officials of the Tarlac police. (Photo from the Tarlac Police Provincial Office)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga –– After 16 years, the most wanted man in Umingan town in Pangasinan province was finally arrested in nearby Tarlac province.

Authorities carried out a manhunt operation on May 19 that resulted in the arrest of Warlito Marcadejas, 61, who had a P165,000-bounty on his head.

The lawmen served the warrant of arrest issued by Executive Judge Ulysses Raciles Butuyan of Tayug, Pangasinan Regional Trial Court in February 2005 for murder and violation of elections gun ban without bail.

In a statement, Tarlac police director Col. Renante Cabico said Marcadejas was brought to the regional health unit in Paniqui town, also in Tarlac, for medical examination, before being detained at the police station.

He was eventually turned over to the police Counter Intelligence Group.

Cabico said the suspect was caught after extensive surveillance and manhunt operations initiated by several police units.

On May 18, police also arrested John Paul Pagaduan, 26, in Barangay Calabtangan, Mayantoc, Tarlac, on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Francis William Espinola of Camiling RTC Branch 68 for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 with recommended bail of P200,000. INQ

LZB