Man wanted for 40 counts of rape nabbed in Zamboanga after 10 years


CEBU CITY – A man wanted for 40 counts of rape was arrested after hiding for 10 years last July 9.

Dennis Cerenio, 39, is the No. 2 most wanted person in Central Visayas, said Police Col. Robert Lingbawan, battalion commander of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Central Visayas.

Cerenio was cornered in Barangay Magsaysay, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

“We received an intelligence report that he was spotted in Magsaysay so we immediately sent a team there and coordinated with the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Zamboanga Police Provincial Office and the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company,” said Lingbawan.

The arresting team headed by Police Major Epream Paguyod was armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Judge May Faith Lledo Trumata-Rebotiaco of Regional Trial Court Branch 94 in Argao, Cebu last April 13.

Lingbawan said the victim sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas, which went on to file charges against the suspect.