Fatal ambush in San Juan Abra leaves construction worker dead

Abra, Philippines – Four days after the recent bloody ambush in Abra, another life was claimed by unidentified gunmen on Monday night, January 12, in Barangay Nangobongan, San Juan.

Police identified the fatality as Eduard Talledo Montero III, a construction laborer. Authorities said Montero was drinking with a colleague at a friend’s house that evening. At around 9:00 p.m., after their drinking session, Montero and his fellow construction worker were on their way home when unidentified assailants suddenly opened fire.

Montero was hit in the head and died on the spot. His companion was also wounded in the incident but was later discharged from the hospital.

San Juan police, who were only notified of the shooting at around midnight, recovered 17 spent shell casings from the crime scene, believed to have been fired from an M16 rifle.

Authorities have yet to identify the suspects and determine the motive behind the attack.

The killing comes just days after another violent incident in the province. On January 8, two brothers, aged 25 and 29, were found dead in a rice field in Barangay Isit, Dolores, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds from still-unidentified assailants.