SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — One of the suspects linked to a buy-bust operation in Barangay Cagniog, Surigao City, voluntarily surrendered to authorities after the incident left a police officer dead, according to a DXKS RPN Surigao social media post on Wednesday.
The suspect was identified as Ricardo Peligro Tiudianco, 45, a resident of the area.
Police, meanwhile, continued their hot pursuit operation against another suspect, identified as Ronel Mapalo Maturan, 23, single, and a resident of Barangay Cagniog, who allegedly fled after the incident.
The operation took place on Wednesday night, May 6, 2026, in Purok 2, Sitio Cayutan, Barangay Cagniog.
Killed in the operation was Police Staff Sergeant Charito G. Gepulla, a member of the Surigao del Norte Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit. Gepulla was part of the team led by Police Major Audrey Rose R. Rivero, which carried out the anti-illegal drug operation in the area.
Based on initial police information cited in the post, the target of the operation was a suspect known by the alias “Chicano Ributa.” The operation reportedly turned violent after the suspect allegedly grabbed the service firearm of a police officer, leading to the fatal shooting of Gepulla.
Gepulla was rushed to the Caraga Regional Hospital, but died at around 12 midnight on May 7, 2026.
Authorities said the investigation was still ongoing, while the official autopsy result was being awaited to determine the exact cause of the police officer’s death.
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