Dolores, Abra – Residents of Barangay Isit, Dolores, Abra, woke up on Thursday, January 8, 2026, to disturbing news after two brothers were found dead in a rice field, hours after gunshots were reportedly heard in the community.
The victims were identified by the police as Michael Galera Millare, 29, and Sherwin Galera Millare, 25, both residents of the barangay.
According to the Dolores Municipal Police Station, Michael’s body was first discovered by a local resident, Rodencio Pass, at 6:00 a.m. on January 8 along the road near an irrigation area in Sitio Nagtupacan while he was heading home.
Upon checking the surrounding area, Rodencio found Sherwin’s body nearby and immediately notified authorities and neighbors.
Responding police officers confirmed that both bodies sustained multiple gunshot wounds. They also recovered nine fired cartridge casings and two slugs believed to have been fired from a .45-caliber firearm.
The initial investigation revealed that Michael and Sherwin were allegedly riding a blue motorcycle toward a river when they were ambushed by unidentified assailants.
Some residents told police that they had heard gunshots on Wednesday night.
In an interview with Balitang Solid North, Ann Jessa Mae Cardino, Michael’s live-in partner, recalled that they heard gunshots around 6 p.m. on January 7 but did not suspect that Michael was involved. It was only the next morning that she learned Michael had been found dead along with Sherwin.
“Di kua, ada nanggeg mi nga putok itoy daya ngem haan mi met namnamaen nga isuda gayam (Michael and Sherwin). Alas sais ti rabie didjay putok sir. Ngan-nganik pay apan motoren koma sir ta panak koma kitan nu anya didjay ngem gapos tas haan ko mapanawan diay bassit nga anak mi, hanak nagtuloy sir nga inmay nangkita. Tatan, inggana agpatnag, inur-uray ko nga sumangpet sir ket awan. Alauna (1:00 a.m.), urayak nga uray ada nga lang koma maysa kanyada nga sumangpet ket awan metten gana nabigatanen. Sami lang nadamag ti bigaten sir nga ada da dita kanun nga napasag itan,” Ann Jessa Mae narrated.
Currently, Dolores MPS is conducting an in-depth investigation to establish the identities of the suspect(s) and the motive behind the crime.
“We are exerting effort nga agconduct pay ti naun-uneg pay nga imbistigayson tapno maekkan ti hustisya ti napasamak iti daytoy duwa nga agkabsat,” said Dolores MPS Chief of Police PCPT Jadi Fernandez in a separate interview.
Fernandez revealed that Michael was linked to a previous shooting incident, while Sherwin was reportedly involved in a prior dispute related to an incident where his cow was allegedly harmed.
The police officer said these cases are now being considered as part of the investigation but emphasized that authorities are still looking into other possible angles.
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