Fil-Am fugitive facing drug raps in US nabbed in Rizal

LUCENA CITY — A Filipino-American, who has long been a fugitive from the United States on drug charges, was arrested in Morong, Rizal on Thursday, Oct. 6.

The Police Regional Office 4-A reported Friday that operatives from the Bureau of Immigration-Fugitive Search Unit and local police nabbed at 11:10 a.m. Virgilio Cruz at his residence in Morong.

The police report said the fugitive was arrested in relation to the bench warrant issued by the New Jersey Court on Feb. 2, 2018 against Cruz.

Cruz was charged in New Jersey on November 2014 and April 2016 with multiple counts of distribution of illegal drugs in that state.

He exited the US before the conclusion of his trial, according to the Transportation Security Administration and Homeland Security Pre-Check of the US, the report said.

He has no records of valid travel documents, and his passport expired on Jan. 23, 2020, the police said.

But apparently, the fugitive continued to engage in illegal drug trade even in the country.

Cruz was also convicted of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) on May 2, 2022 but was released via a plea-bargaining agreement, the police noted.

The report did not explain how Cruz was able to enter into an agreement with the court for his freedom. INQ

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