Isabela Vice Mayor injured in alleged drunken gunfire incident

A vice mayor was injured and placed under hospital arrest after allegedly discharging his firearm during a late-night drinking session that turned violent in Barangay Quezon, San Isidro, early Thursday, 23 October 2025.

Police identified the suspect as Vice Mayor Artemio Gambalan Tumamao Jr., 52, of Barangay Rizal East, who was reportedly involved in an altercation with two residents identified as Norbert Asis, 49, and Jhon Robert Asis, 27, both of District Albano in Barangay Quezon.

Initial investigation revealed that the victims, along with relatives and SK Chairman Excelsis Landween Medrano Gonzales, 22, were having a drinking spree on Wednesday night when the vice mayor arrived and joined them.

During the gathering, Tumamao allegedly asked who among them would like to serve as his bodyguard before heading to his vehicle to retrieve a handgun. The victims confronted him about carrying a firearm while drinking, reportedly angering the local official, who then fired his gun, prompting the victims to subdue and beat him.

Gonzales intervened and successfully disarmed the vice mayor before police arrived at around 12:30 a.m. Responding officers from the San Isidro Municipal Police Station rushed the wounded suspect to Isabela South Specialists Hospital, while the victims were taken to Echague District Hospital for medical treatment.

Recovered from the scene were a Glock Gen4 .40-caliber pistol with an extended magazine and one spent .40-caliber shell casing.