Abra official, 2 others shot dead in ambush

By Charlie Lagasca

BANGUED, Abra -- Police are still investigating to find out the perpetrators in the killing of a councilor of Tineg, Abra and two companions in an ambush along the national highway in this capital town, Tuesday night.

Tineg councilor Montano Inon, 37, his cousin Berting Inon, 45, and Diego Biglay, 25, were cruising the highway on a Honda motorcycle en route to Bangued when they were gunned down by motorcycle-rising men.

The three did not reach the Abra provincial hospital alive, said Senior Supt. Armando Laguiwid, Abra police director.

Police investigators found four spent shells and a slug for Cal. 45 pistol at the crime scene.

Police promptly put up checkpoints to catch the gunmen but failed.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 16, a 60-year-old farmer in Abra’s Tayum town was shot dead by a neighbor.

The victim, Ricardo Carmelo, was reportedly about to check his livestock at the backyard when the suspect, Rogel Onor, shot him that night.

Police found eight fired cartridges from an M-16 assault rifle and one fired cartridge from a Gauge 12.

Carmelo, who was shot in the left shoulder and upper right part of the body, died minutes after he was brought to the provincial hospital.