Police Seek Leads in Fatal Shooting of Former Campaign Manager in Surigao del Sur

Police are still struggling to identify suspects or establish a motive in the fatal shooting of Kristoffer Ralph ‘Raffy’ Manggana Rizo, a farmer and former campaign manager for an opposition congressional candidate in Tagbina town, Surigao del Sur, on Thursday morning (July 16). Authorities from the Tagbina Municipal Police Station stated that while investigators attended a case conference in Tandag City on Friday, no major breakthroughs have been made. The police have appealed to the public for any information that could help identify the gunman and determine the motive behind the attack. Rizo served as the campaign manager for former congressional candidate Carla Lopez Pichay during the 2025 elections in Surigao del Sur’s Second District. Following Rizo’s death, Pichay condemned the attack, describing it as another instance of violence and impunity in Surigao del Sur. Days before he was shot, Rizo posted a message on Facebook expressing concern over what he described as harassment due to his “stand.” However, the post did not name any specific individuals or groups, and police have not yet linked it to the killing. Prior to the incident, Rizo had also filed a police complaint over an alleged unauthorized entry onto his farm by several individuals approximately a month before his death. The connection between this complaint and Rizo’s killing remains under investigation. Police have stated that they are pursuing all possible angles, including political, personal, and other motives, but stressed that no conclusions have been reached at this time.