CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Authorities killed Northern Mindanao’s sixth most wanted person following a law enforcement operation in Bukidnon Monday, the Philippine National Police-10 (PNP-10) in a report said.
Killed was Dencio Lundahan, the reported leader of the notorious Lundahan criminal group operating in the northern part of Bukidnon, particularly in the town of Baungon and nearby municipalities.
The report said police killed Lundahan in an operation in Barangay San Vicente, Baungon.
Aside from leading a criminal group, authorities believe Lundahan has ties with the New People’s Army (NPA) who are engaged in extortion, robbery, gun-for-hire, and other illegal activities, said Brig. Gen. Rafael Santiago Jr., PNP-10 regional director.
Santiago said Lundahan has several arrest warrants for serious crimes such as multiple murder, among others.
“He (Lundahan) 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,” the police official said, adding that with the criminal leader’s passing the province “will be safer.”
Santiago said Lundahan was included in a PNP-10 report containing the list of most wanted personalities involved in criminal acts that are 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,” he said, although the police did not mention how much was bounty was set for Lundahan.
Meanwhile, Santiago said he will not tolerate police officers who are engaged in illegal activities in light of the arrest of Patrolwoman Sheryl Lou Licayan, who was arrested for allegedly extorting money from police and non-uniformed personnel applicants.
The report said Licayan was allegedly caught in the act of receiving marked money from one of her victims during an entrapment operation inside a fast food restaurant in this city on June 11.
“We will not lower our guard against rogue cops. We will continue our campaign until we have cleansed our rank of unfit and undesirable police officers,” the regional director said.
He added, “I will never tolerate misdeeds on my watch.” (davaotoday.com)
