AMBUSH in PILAR and BANGUED: 1 killed, 1 injured in separate shooting incidents in Abra

Bangued, Abra - In a tragic turn of events on March 12, two separate shooting incidents transpired in Abra, resulting in the death of a municipal councilor candidate, while the other the injury of a former barangay captain.  

According to police report obtained by a local media outlet, the first incident occurred at around 5:10 p.m. in Barangay Dintan, Pilar, Abra. Melchor Gatmen, who was running for the Sangguniang Bayan of said town under “Team Asenso”, was shot and killed.  

The authorities, upon being notified of the incident, immediately proceeded to the crime scene, and there, they found Gatmen lying on the roadside. When they checked on him, he had gunshot wounds to his chest and leg, which led to his immediate death.  

Preliminary investigations, as reported by witnesses, revealed that the victim was riding a white XRM motorcycle when the shooting transpired. His companion, Marivic Dato, was unharmed during the incident.

As the two were nearing Brgy. Dintan from Brgy. Poblacion, they were ambushed by unknown assailants. The suspects fled the crime scene using a red Honda Click motorcycle without a license plate, heading toward Barangay Bolbolo. 

Further investigations are being conducted by the police, with political tensions being considered as a possible reason.  

In the second incident, 54-year-old Ruben Gadil Balubar, the ex- captain of Barangay Lubong, Bangued, was injured after he was shot at around 6:00 p.m. near the Serenity Resort in Brgy. Agtangao.  

Based on his narrative, Balubar was heading home when he was shot multiple times by a suspect identified by the police as Brix Walter Millare, known by the locals as Boknoy.  

Despite being critically wounded, Balubar managed to make his way to his residence, where he sought assistance from his relatives.  

Upon notification at around 6:30 pm, police and emergency personnel arrived shortly after and rushed Balubar to the Abra Provincial Hospital, where he is now recuperating.