The number six most wanted person in the province of Quirino was killed during a gunfight with police while authorities were serving an arrest warrant in Barangay San Pugo, Nagtipunan, Quirino.
According to Police Regional Office 2, the armed encounter occurred on the morning of May 28 when combined forces from PNP Nagtipunan, Quirino Police, and other units attempted to arrest the suspect known only by the alias “Puti.”
Police reported that the suspect suddenly fired at the approaching operatives, prompting law enforcement to retaliate, which led to an exchange of gunfire resulting in the suspect’s death.
The suspect, a 55-year-old married resident of Alfonso, Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya, had a criminal record including a prior conviction for homicide on November 19, 2010, for which he was released on parole.
On December 17, 2024, the Regional Trial Court Branch 38 in Maddela-Nagtipunan issued four separate warrants of arrest against the suspect for rape.
Recovered from the scene were a .45 caliber pistol without a serial number with a magazine, three spent shells, four live rounds, over ₱30,000 in cash, a handheld radio, a grenade in a backpack, and a motorcycle with no license plate.
The suspect’s remains were brought to the Nagtipunan Rural Health Unit for postmortem examination and paraffin testing.