Brazen Daylight Execution: Isabela Barangay Councilor Gunned Down by Motorcycle Assassins

ECHAGUE, ISABELA — A quiet morning in a rural community turned bloody after a veteran local politician and former village chairman, currently serving as a Barangay councilor, was ambushed and killed by two motorcycle-riding gunmen.

The brutal assassination has sent shockwaves through the municipality, prompting law enforcement to deploy multi-agency investigative units to track down the killers.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026 inside a property owned by the victim in Barangay Malibago, Echague.

The victim, identified by police as 66-year-old Lito Publico, was a deeply established figure in the community, having previously served as the barangay captain for 13 years before his election to the local council. Publico was tending to his farm and resort property when the peace was shattered by a sudden volley of gunfire.

According to initial reports, a worker on the property heard multiple gunshots and rushed toward the noise, only to discover Publico lying motionless on the ground in a pool of blood. The two suspects, wearing helmets to conceal their identities, immediately sped away from the scene on a motorcycle before alarms could be raised.

Emergency responders from the Echague Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) rushed to the farm, but the severity of the attack left no room for survival. Publico sustained five bullet wounds, including a catastrophic shot to the head, underscoring the ruthless intent of the gunmen. He was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.

The Echague Municipal Police Station immediately dispatched patrol units and homicide investigators to secure the perimeter and preserve ballistic evidence.

However, authorities admit that the layout of the crime scene presents significant challenges. Police Major Domer Pelo, chief of the Echague Police, noted that the remote farm location lacks closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and nearby residential houses are spaced far apart.

"We received a call from a concerned citizen via our hotline and immediately deployed patrollers and investigators to verify the incident," PMAJ. Pelo stated. "Right now, we are actively gathering witness statements from workers and anyone down the road, alongside pursuing any available leads to identify the perpetrators. We appeal to the public to come forward if they saw anything unusual."

As of Sunday, investigators from the Isabela Police Provincial Office and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have stepped in to assist with the probe.

Authorities have not yet established a clear motive for the execution. Given Publico's long-standing career in local politics, teams are meticulously analyzing whether the hit was fueled by political rivalries, land disputes related to his properties, or personal grievances.

A hot pursuit and provincial manhunt remain underway as regional task forces attempt to seal off escape routes out of Isabela. Updates will be provided as forensics reports and official suspect descriptions are formalized.