Brgy. Kagawad in Peñarrubia, Abra shot dead in morning routine; grieving partner cries for justice

Peñarrubia, Abra – A barangay official described as kind and helpful was shot dead while on his usual morning routine along a provincial road in Peñarrubia, Abra, on Wednesday morning, March 11.

Police identified the victim as 42-year-old Ryan Molina Sanchez, a barangay kagawad of Barangay Riang, Peñarrubia.

According to a report from the local police station, Sanchez was jogging along the Peñarrubia–Bangued Provincial Road at around 8:50 a.m. when he was shot by a still-unidentified assailant.

A resident who found the victim lying by the roadside immediately informed the police. Responding authorities rushed to the scene and brought Sanchez to the Abra Provincial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Initial investigation revealed that the suspect was reportedly riding a motorcycle without a license plate when he shot Sanchez multiple times.

In an interview with Balitang Solid North, Peñarrubia Municipal Police Station Acting Chief, Police Captain June Saliw-an, said Sanchez had a routine of jogging at the same time every day, which the suspect may have taken advantage of.

The police officer added that .45-caliber bullet shells were recovered at the crime scene.

“Usually kastoy ti routine na. Inaldaw agjogging suna ti kastoy nga oras. Diay suspect tayo sinurot na isuna. Kunana diay nakakita, nakamotor diay suspect ket idiay pinaltugan na diay biktima tayo. Ada tallo nga tama na diay biktima tayo,” Saliw-an said, revealing their initial findings.

In a separate interview, Sanchez’s live-in partner remembered the victim as someone who never hesitated to help others who came to their home asking for assistance. The grieving partner appealed for justice, urging anyone with information to come forward and help authorities in the immediate arrest of the suspect.

“Nakalalaing nga tao bilibak ken managtulong. Basta nu adda umay agpatulong diay balay, awan pay ti di haan halos. Dagijay nangaramid kanyana ti kastoy. Anya naragsak kayon ti kastoy nga napasamaken kenni Ryan en? Haan nga bali, haan nga matmaturog ni Apo,” the partner said.

As of this writing, an in-depth investigation is ongoing to identify the suspect and determine the motive behind the crime.