American fugitive arrested in Talisay

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation arrested an American fugitive who was wanted in the United States for failure to register as a sex offender.

NBI-7 director Edward Villarta said Robert Dean Lunsford, 52, was arrested for being an undocumented alien in the Philippines after his passport was cancelled by the U.S. government in relation to his outstanding warrant of arrest in the State of Missouri.

Villarta said the U.S. Embassy in Manila requested assistance from them after they received information that Lunsford is hiding in Cebu. A surveillance operation was conducted by the NBI-7 operatives led by Special Investigator Arnel Pura and special agent Shaun Gavin of the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.

Lunsford was found to have been married to a Filipina in Talisay City and was subsequently arrested last Wednesday.

“Lunsford was spotted and apprehended by Pura, NBI agents and Gavin at the mall in Talisay City,” Villarta said.

“We were able to trace the residence of Lunsford here in Cebu after an investigation was conducted and we found his residence at the back of a school in Talisay City,” Pura said.

Ed Damitan of the Bureau of Immigration said Lunsford will be deported to the U.S. to face the charges.

Pending the processing of the necessary documents and clearances, Lunsford will be detained at the holding facility of the Bureau of Immigration in Bicutan.

According to the NBI, Lunsford was convicted of first degree sexual abuse involving a minor in February 26, 1990.

At present, he is facing a complaint for possession of child pornography which is still under investigation in the US. Lunsford arrived in Cebu last Month and has since stayed in Talisay City. — THE FREEMAN