40-year-old mentally diasabled man gunned down in Roxas, Isabela; Motive still unknown

Roxas, Isabela – A 40-year-old man reported to be mentally disable was shot dead by still unidentified suspect(s) late in the evening of February 11, 2026, in Roxas, Isabela, for reasons yet to be determined.

Local police identified the victim as Joven Arreola, 40, married, and a resident of Barangay Sotero Nuesa, Roxas.

In an interview with a local media outlet, Police Captain Leonard Mamerga, deputy chief of the Roxas Police Station, confirmed the incident and said that Arreola was resting by the roadside in the said barangay when he was attacked by the assailant(s) at around 10:50 p.m. that day.

The police officer did not specify whether Arreola died at the scene or upon arrival at the hospital.

Responding officers recovered seven empty bullet shells and two live bullets from a firearm of undetermined caliber at the crime scene.

As of this writing, authorities have yet to receive the official medical report from the attending physician to determine how many gunshot wounds the victim sustained.

Investigators are still establishing the motive behind the killing. A review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage is also being conducted to check for possible images of the suspect(s).

The local police station continues its manhunt operations and is interviewing potential witnesses to expedite the identification and arrest of the person(s) involved.