POLICE have arrested in a law enforcement operation the alleged leader of a group involved in large scale illegal recruitment activity in Zamboanga City and other areas of Mindanao.

Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office director, identified the arrested suspect as Liezel Alterado, 41, the alleged leader of the Alterado group.

Lorenzo said Alterado was arrested by a joint police team in a law enforcement operation by way of service of warrant of arrest around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, November 29, at the public transport terminal in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

He said Alterado is the 10th most wanted person in the country and has a standing warrant of arrest with no recommended bail for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by RA 10022, issued by the court of Zamboanga City on August 17, 2021.

Lorenzo said Alterado was allegedly involved in illegal recruitment activity in Tagun City, Davao del Norte; Zamboanga City; and in Surallah, South Cotabato.

He said the arrested suspect is now under the custody of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Soccsksargen for proper disposition and prior turn over to the court concerned. (SunStar Zamboanga)