BANGUED, Abra -- A contractor was gunned down while supervising a road concreting project in Barangay Lobong here Monday.

Alejandro Baay Jr., 56, was talking to village chief Jimmy Bernardez when he was gunned down by a sniper, said Abra spokesperson Insp. Mary Grace Marron.

The victim was brought to the Seares Medical Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival from a gunshot wound in the chest.

Police are  conducting investigation to identify the motive and the assailant in the killing of Baay, a former village chairman in Barangay Lubong, here.

Chief Insp. Vic Orcino, Bangued town’s police chief, confirmed Monday that former Barangay Chairman Julie Baay was inspecting his road project in Barangay Lubong about 4:30 p.m. Feb. 28.

“It initially appeared that the victim was sniped by a still unknown gunman from an estimated distance of 40 meters,” Orcino said. Baay succumbed to a bullet wound on his chest. -- Freddie G. Lazaro