[1][3][4] His involvement in crimes such as robbery, carjacking, and drug trafficking, and the killings of seven policemen[4] within months due to personal motives, led to the police to tag him in their wanted list.
[1][3][5] Being a subject by manhunt operations by the Philippine Constabulary for about a year, he was once caught by the forces from the then Western Police District (WPD) led by Lt. Ernesto Diokno.
[1][3] Tumbling was killed in a shootout with the police operatives reportedly led by then Intelligence Chief, Col. Vicente Vinarao,[5] in Manila in the early morning of March 13, 1981.
[1][2] Retired police officer, former Lt. Edgar Gimao, one of those claiming the one who killed Tumbling, recounted the events in an interview by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2000.
[2] Then First Lady and Metro Manila governor Imelda Marcos awarded medal of efficiency to the four who were also given spot promotion, while then WPD chief Narciso Cabrera and other officials received honors as well.