Fatal shootout in Abra leaves one dead, one injured

Two groups exchanged gunfire in the afternoon of 21 April 2025, at Sitio Agdamay, Barangay Budac, Tayum, Abra, leaving one individual dead on arrival at the hospital and another injured. The incident occurred approximately two kilometers from the town’s police station, according to the police report.

The fatality was identified as Jay-ar Tanura, 27 years old, single, unemployed, and a resident of Barangay Gaddani, Tayum, Abra. The other individual who sustained gunshot wounds but survived was identified as Jordan Calaustro Barcena, of legal age, and a resident of Barangay Budac, Tayum, Abra.

According to the police report, personnel from the Tayum Municipal Police Station (MPS) were notified by a concerned citizen about the shooting incident, which occurred around 3:40 PM that day at Sitio Agdamay, Barangay Budac. A mayoralty candidate also approached the police station and reported that their campaign convoy had been fired upon.

When the Tayum Police, along with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 15, arrived at the scene, they heard a lone gunshot. They found a black SUV pick-up truck, which they stopped and apprehended the driver, identified as Jomel Barbieto Molina, 21 years old, single, a resident of So. Quilob, Barangay Budac, Tayum, Abra.

Confiscated from the driver were a .45 caliber pistol, without a serial number and markings, along with three magazines, each loaded with seven live rounds. Another .45 caliber pistol, also without a serial number and markings and inserted with one magazine, was found inside the vehicle. According to the police, this was Tanura’s firearm.

The initial police investigation revealed that members of the convoy of Tayum mayoralty candidate Kathlia Cariño Alcantara and former Bangued Mayor Ryan Luna fired at the convoy of Barangay Budac Punong Barangay Walter Tugadi. As a result, Tugadi’s companions, Barcena and Tanura, sustained gunshot wounds.

Barcena was rushed to Seares Memorial Hospital for medical treatment and is now in stable condition. Tanura, however, was declared dead on arrival at the Abra Provincial Hospital.

The Tayum police discovered one bullet hole each in both the black SUV pick-up truck and the white pick-up truck from Alcantara’s convoy. Meanwhile, Barcena identified Luna and a certain Raffy Tejero as part of the shooters in one of the vehicles from Alcantara’s convoy.

Multiple .45 caliber and 5.56 mm ammunition cartridges were found along the highway. Another white pick-up truck with a bullet hole was later discovered at the compound of Luna in Dangdangla, Bangued.

In a statement, the Abra Provincial Police Office appealed for cooperation from the public in maintaining peace in the province. The police assured that they are thoroughly investigating the incident in Tayum.