CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Northern Mindanao Police Regional Director Brig. General Rafael Santiago Jr. confirmed that the No.6 most wanted person in Northern Mindanao and leader of a notorious criminal group believed to have ties with CPP-NPA terrorists engaged in extortion, robbery, gun-for-hire and other criminal activities was killed in a police operation in Barangay San Vicente, Baungon, Bukidnon, on Monday.
General Santiago identified the slain wanted person as Dencio Lundahan, the leader of the notorious Lundahan criminal group operating in northern Bukidnon, particularly Baungon and nearby areas.
“He has several warrants of arrest for serious crimes like multiple murder and the likes. He has been the subject of police manhunt operation because of his high profile criminal background. Lately, he has been monitored to be engaged in extortion victimizing plantation operators in Bukidnon. With his passing, Bukidnon will be safer,” Santiago said.
Santiago said Lundahan is included in the PNP PSR, a report containing list of most wanted personalities and their criminal activities subject to immediate police operation.
“A bounty for his arrest has doubled in recent years for the more than a dozen crimes he has committed ranging from multiple murder to robbery,” Santiago said. “We have eliminated one notorious criminal with the death of Dencio Lundahan,” he added.
Lundahan leads a criminal group notorious for armed robbery, murder, gun for hire and other crimes whose criminal records fill court dockets since early 2000.
“His group have even been monitored to be collaborating with the CPP-NPA terrorists and have recently engaged in extortion,” Santiago said.
“Appropriate awards will be given to our personnel for this highly commendable accomplishment,” Santiago added. (PLTC SEREÑAS)
