Authorities identified the suspect as Sherwin Diaz, alias “Ranger” and “Win,” of Barangay Caturay Sur, Mangatarem, Pangasinan.
The suspect was arrested while getting off a bus at about 2 a.m. "Nakuha si Diaz pagbaba niya sa RoRo, sa bus kasi matagal na siyang nasurveillance, nagtago ito sa Surigao almost a year na (Diaz was arrested while going down a RoRo bus. He was under surveillance for a while and hid in Surigao for almost a year)," police said.
Diaz is listed as DILG National MWP under DILG MC No. 2021-120 dated Oct. 20, 2021 with a reward of P405,000 for his arrest.
Joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Pangasinan (lead unit), Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU)-Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO), Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU) 1 Lingayen Airport, and Mabalacat police arrested Diaz through a warrant of arrest for two counts of murder, frustrated murder, and three counts of attempted murder issued by Judge Magnolia V. Cayetano, presiding judge of RTC, 1st Judicial Region, Branch 56, San Carlos City, Pangasinan dated Feb. 15, 2021.
The court recommended no bail for the crime of murder but set bail of P120,000 for each count of attempted murder and P120,000 for frustrated murder.
Diaz is one of the suspects in the ambush of Espino who survived the incident and his escorts on Sept. 11, 2019 at about 4:30 p.m. at the boundary of Barangays Ilang and Magtaking, San Carlos City.
Police Staff Sgt. Richard Esguerra and Agapito V. Cuison were killed while Police Staff Sgt. Jayson Malsi, Kevin Marfori, and Anthony Colombino were injured in the attack.
Diaz allegedly is a member of the Sison Group involved in gun-for-hire activities in Pangasinan, nearby provinces, and Metro Manila.
He was taken to the CIDG Satellite Office 2 in Dagupan City for proper documentation and disposition.