POLICE arrested on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, a rape suspect who had eluded arrest for more than 23 years.

Eddie Cariño, who is among Cagayan Valley’s top 10 most wanted people, was arrested in Barangay Palenae in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan at around 5:10 a.m. Tuesday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas on Wednesday, March 3, said Cariño was arrested based on a warrant issued by Maddela, Quirino Regional Trial Court Branch 38 in January 1998 yet.

Sinas said the suspect was nabbed by joint personnel of Regional Intelligence Unit 2, Maddela Municipal Police Station, Quirino Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd Quirino Provincial Mobile Force Company and Quirino Provincial Intelligence.

Cariño was placed under the custody of Maddela Municipal Police Station for documentation and booking prior to the mandatory return of warrant to the issuing court. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)