BAGUIO CITY — Law enforcers collared an alleged swindler and illegal recruiter wanted under eight arrest warrants during a recent manhunt operation in Kalinga province.

The arrest was carried out by personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Apayao Provincial Field Unit, the Regional Intelligence Unit 14, and local police forces in Barangay Junction, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.

The suspect, identified only by the alias "Kara," is a resident of Barangay Junction and is listed as the No. 5 provincial most wanted person in Kalinga.

Her arrest warrants span several years and jurisdictions, including four warrants covering 26 counts of violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, as well as warrants for illegal recruitment, estafa, violation of the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016, and falsification of public documents. The warrants were issued between 2023 and 2026 by courts in Quezon City, La Trinidad, Pasig City, Pampanga, and Batangas.

The illegal recruitment charge stems from an incident between April and May 2023, when the suspect allegedly defrauded a male victim in La Trinidad, Benguet. According to authorities, the suspect claimed she could facilitate the victim's employment as an equipment operator in Malaysia and collected P40,000 for processing fees, a visa application, and an airline ticket. After receiving the money, the suspect allegedly cut off all communication and failed to deploy the victim.

Following a report from the victim, the CIDG Benguet Provincial Field Unit coordinated with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Verification revealed that the suspect did not possess a license or authority to recruit workers for overseas employment, leading to the filing of complaints and the subsequent issuance of her arrest warrant.

The CIDG said the arrest was part of its ongoing campaign to locate wanted persons and fugitives nationwide.