CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The former chief of Barangay Kinawe in Libona town, Bukidnon surrendered to authorities on Tuesday, three days after he evaded arrest for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Last Saturday, authorities searched the house of ex-barangay chair Tarcisio Barros, which yielded several firearms and explosives.

The operation also led to a firefight, with three soldiers of Task Force Oro wounded.

Barros evaded arrest, while 18 others, including his wife, Cherry, the incumbent village chief of Barangay Kinawe, were arrested.

Libona town Mayor Leonardo Genesis Calingasan said Barros called him up early Tuesday and asked assistance for his safe surrender.

"He sought help from me to call [Bukidnon] Governor Jose Maria Zubiri so that he can surrender. That is why I have called Gov[ernor] so that everything will be in place," said Calingasan.

Zubiri together with Bukidnon Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Benedicto Pintor accompanied Barros to Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro and facilitated his surrender to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 10.

Meanwhile, the CIDG has filed complaints against Barros and his wife Cherry, step-son Peter Gore Jr., and 16 others for Illegal Possession of Explosives, Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunitions, Direct Assault, Frustrated Homicide and Attempted Homicide.

"Yun yung remedy nila, nag-waive sila so nag-undergo sila ng preliminary investigation. So far, nasa custody pa natin sila ngayon," said Police Superintendent Melgar Devaras, deputy chief of CIDG 10.

CIDG 10 also said they have yet to establish the link of the Barros couple to the Kuratong Baleleng group of Ozamiz City, noting that some people who were arrested in their house were from Misamis Occidental who the Barroses may have hired to become their "goons."

"Si Kapitana kasi, base on reports, siya mismo inaako niya na Kuratong Baleleng siya. That was before na hindi pa na raid yung Ozamiz pero this time silent. Pero same yung people na pinagha-hire niya dyan coming from Misamis Occidental," said Devaras.