Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Saturday announced the arrest of a female fugitive listed as the No. 5 Provincial Most Wanted Person in Kalinga during a manhunt operation in Barangay Junction, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.

The operation, carried out by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Apayao Provincial Field Unit in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Unit 14 and territorial police units, resulted in the arrest of the suspect by virtue of eight warrants of arrest issued by courts in Quezon City, La Trinidad, Benguet, Pasig City, Pampanga, and Batangas between 2023 and 2026.

Identified only by her alias “Kara,” the suspect, a resident of Pinukpuk, Kalinga, is facing 26 counts of violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 under four separate warrants, along with charges for illegal recruitment, estafa, violation of Republic Act No. 10883, or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016, and falsification of public documents under Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code.

One of the eight warrants stemmed from an illegal recruitment case in which the accused allegedly misrepresented herself as capable of facilitating overseas employment for a victim from La Trinidad, Benguet, between April and May 2023.

Authorities said the suspect allegedly accepted payment for processing, visa application, and travel requirements but failed to provide the promised employment and later became unreachable.

Acting on the victim’s complaint, the CIDG Benguet Provincial Field Unit coordinated with the Department of Migrant Workers, which confirmed that the accused neither possessed a license nor authority to recruit workers for overseas employment.

The investigation led to the filing of criminal charges and the issuance of a warrant of arrest.

“This arrest sends a clear message that the law will catch up with those who exploit aspiring overseas workers and use deceit for personal gain. We remain relentless in tracking down fugitives and ensuring they are held accountable before our courts,” Nartatez said.

“Hindi makatatakas sa batas ang mga taong nananamantala sa pangarap ng ating mga kababayan. Patuloy nating hahanapin at pananagutin ang bawat taong gumagamit ng panlilinlang upang kumita sa kapwa,” he added.

The PNP said the operation reflects its Focused Agenda, particularly under the Enhanced Managing Police Operations program, which aims to strengthen campaigns against wanted persons and protect the public from fraud, illegal recruitment, and other criminal activities through intelligence-driven law enforcement operations.

As the PNP intensifies its nationwide campaign against fugitives and individuals involved in fraud and other criminal offenses under the directive of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the police organization assured the public of its commitment to “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”