BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur — A 36-year-old construction worker survived an apparent targeted shooting inside his home after police launched a hot-pursuit operation that led to the arrest of the alleged gunmen and the recovery of several firearms, ammunition, and suspected illegal drugs in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026.
The victim, identified as Roniel Colas Latiban, married, was inside his residence in Purok 1, Gamaon District, Barangay Mangagoy, at around 2:30 p.m. when the suspects allegedly arrived and knocked on his door.
According to the initial investigation of the Bislig City Police Station, under the supervision of PLTCOL Jassen N. Tuario, the suspects reportedly asked Latiban for his name when he answered the door, apparently to confirm his identity.
Moments later, one of the suspects allegedly opened fire, shooting at Latiban twice.
The victim managed to evade the gunfire but was still struck in his left arm. He was immediately rushed to the Bislig District Hospital for medical treatment.
After the shooting, the suspects reportedly fled toward Barangay Tabon.
Police immediately conducted a CCTV backtracking operation, reviewing surveillance footage to reconstruct the suspects’ movements and determine the route they took after the attack. The tracking operation eventually led authorities to a location believed to have been used as the suspects’ hideout.
Police then launched a hot-pursuit operation, resulting in the arrest of the suspects.
During the operation, authorities recovered several firearms and ammunition, including .357, .38, and .45 caliber pistols, as well as fired cartridge cases and a slug believed to be connected to the shooting.
The operation also yielded seven sachets of suspected shabu and various drug paraphernalia, raising the possibility that the suspects may have links to illegal drug activities.
The arrested individuals are currently under the custody of the Bislig City Police Station for documentation and further investigation. Police are preparing the appropriate criminal charges against them based on the evidence recovered during the operation.
Investigators are also continuing to establish the motive behind the shooting and determine whether the attack was directly connected to illegal drug activities or whether the suspects had other reasons for targeting Latiban.
Victim posted unusual message hours before shooting
Adding an unusual element to the incident, Latiban had made a Facebook post on the morning of August 9, only several hours before he was shot inside his home that afternoon.
In the post, Latiban wrote:
“Kung mamatay ko mga anak palihog ko pokawa rako Kay moinom rakog beer sakong burial,,,,hahahahaha Basta ayaw mog kalimot timan e na Kayoshut Pako bago ko matulog og dayon.”
The post appeared to be written in a joking and casual manner, with Latiban talking about what he wanted his children to do if he died and even joking about drinking beer at his burial.
There is no indication from the initial police report that the Facebook post was connected to the shooting, and authorities have not publicly established that Latiban had prior knowledge that he would be attacked.
Nevertheless, the timing of the post—made just hours before the shooting—adds another layer to the ongoing investigation.
Police are expected to examine Latiban’s recent activities, possible disputes, communications and social-media interactions as investigators work to determine why he was targeted and whether the suspects had been monitoring his movements before the attack.
The recovery of multiple firearms, ammunition and suspected shabu has also prompted authorities to further investigate the background of the arrested suspects and determine whether they are involved in other criminal activities in Bislig City.
Police emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that the suspects will face the appropriate charges based on the evidence gathered. They are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.