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Cagayan’s most wanted arrested

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group here arrested a person tagged by authorities to be Cagayan Valley’s most wanted with a P300,000 reward on his head at the South Harbor in Manila on March 6. 

Chief Inspector Noel Aliño, CIDG team leader here, said the fugitive Rene de la Cruz, of Roxas, Isabela, who is now in their custody, was arrested by elements from the Nueva Vizcaya team of the CIDG just as he was to disembark from a Super Ferry ultimately coming from Apo Macote, Malaybalay City in Bukidnon where he had been hiding from the law for almost six years.

De la Cruz had been wanted by authorities for a case of rape and homicide and murder in his Isabela home province committed sometime in 2002, said Aliño, who was formerly head of the Isabela CIDG before being appointed here just two weeks ago.

“After many false leads, we have finally arrested one of the most wanted persons in Cagayan Valley, who had been able to escape the arm of the law for so long, especially since his name was so common,” he said.

De la Cruz is one of the suspects in criminal case No. 23-0512 filed at the Regional Trial Court branch 23 in Roxas, Isabela in connection with the rape and killing incidents in the province almost six years ago.

His arrest came about as a result of the close surveillance of his relatives and neighbors in Isabela, which enabled police agents to track him down after they visited him in Bukidnon, Aliño said. – CL