Ricardo Peligro Tiudianco, 45, surrendered to law enforcement in Surigao City on May 6. He was one of two suspects involved in a recent buy-bust operation that turned violent.
The operation, conducted in Barangay Cagniog, aimed to apprehend Tiudianco and another suspect, Ronel Mapalo Maturan, 23. Both men fled the scene during the operation.
Tiudianco's surrender follows a confrontation with the police that resulted in the death of Police Staff Sergeant Charito Gepulla. The officer was part of the team that engaged the suspects.
According to Lt. Col. Mariano Lukban, the police director, the operation escalated when the main target, known as 'Chicano Ributa,' allegedly seized a firearm from a police officer, triggering the deadly exchange.
Gepulla was rushed to Caraga Regional Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight.
Authorities are continuing their manhunt for Maturan, as the investigation into the incident remains active.
The investigation is ongoing, and we await the official autopsy results,
Lt. Col. Mariano Lukban
The violence highlights ongoing challenges in combating illegal drugs in the region, as law enforcement intensifies its efforts to dismantle drug operations.