Ilocos’ most wanted falls

MANILA, Philippines—The authorities have finally caught up with the most wanted man in the Ilocos region who had been in hiding for 15 years since the murder of a politician in Ilocos Norte, the police Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Thursday.

CIDG operatives arrested Alex Cariaga, 43, Wednesday morning in Maddela, Quirino. Cariaga is the prime suspect in the murder of councilman Willy Agustin of Barangay Duripes, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte in June 1997.

The CIDG director, Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr., said the fugitive was arrested at 11 a.m. by members of the Ilocos Norte CIDG and community volunteers on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Conrado A. Ragucos of Laoag City Regional Trial Court Branch 16 for murder.

No bail has been recommended for Cariaga’s temporary liberty.

Cariaga was accused of shooting and killling Agustin before fleeing to his brother’s place in Quezon province and then to Maddela town in Quirino, where he eluded justice for 15 years until he was tracked down there recently.

The CIDG chief in Region 1, Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina, said Cariaga was listed as the “most wanted person” in the region with a bounty of P75,000.

An additional P20,000 had been put up for his arrest by the governor’s office in Ilocos Norte.