A PHYSICIAN who is a reserve colonel in the Armed Forces was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents inside Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, over the weekend allegedly based on a warrant of arrest issued against him by the United States government.

Brig. Gen. Lito Tabangcura, head of the Armed Forces Reserve Command, confirmed the arrest of Col. Eric Garchitorena but said he doesn’t know about the reason for the latter’s arrest.

“I was not in my office in Camp Aguinaldo when the NBI arrested him. I am not aware why he was taken into custody by the NBI,” Tabangcura told the BusinessMirror.

He said he has not talked yet with Garchitorena.

The NBI allegedly arrested Garchitorena on the basis of a request from the US government for him to be extradited to answer some charges filed against him such as theft and fraud.

“He [Garchitorena] is now in the custody of our Foreign Liaison Division. His case stemmed from charges of alleged conspiracy to commit theft and fraud in California for presenting false medical claims and allegedly collecting some $3 million in the guise of a medical program,” Alex Carbonel, information officer of the NBI, said.

Carbonel said the FLD is already coordinating with its counter-part in the US for the immediate extradition of Garchitorena to face trial in the US.

At present, Garchitorena was a member of the Armed Forces Medical Corps, specifically commander of the 104th Technical and Administrative Service Group under the 1st TAS Brigade of the AFPRESCOM National Capital Region.

Camp Aguinaldo intelligence and NBI agents flagged down the vehicle of Garchitorena at about 7:30 a.m. last Saturday outside the compound of the AFPRESCOM building.

He was with two or three other reservists during the apprehension.

On March 26, 2011, Garchitorena was among senior officers in the active service and reserve force who was appointed to the rank of full colonel by the Commission on Appointments of the 15th Congress.