A 40-year-old farmer was shot dead in Paoay, Ilocos Norte on Wednesday night after an unidentified assailant opened fire on him while he was driving his motorcycle near a gasoline station in Barangay 2 San Roque.

Police identified the victim as Gilbert Gallardo Dumaoal, a resident of Barangay 5 Nalasin. Initial reports from the Paoay Municipal Police Station said Dumaoal was traveling southbound along the Suba–Balacad Road on his Yamaha Mio motorcycle when, upon reaching the intersection leading to Sitio Banitog, an unidentified gunman attacked him and fired multiple shots.

The suspect immediately fled toward an unknown direction.

Responding personnel and medical workers rushed the victim to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, but he was declared dead on arrival due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Police have launched a dragnet operation and hot pursuit with nearby stations to track down the suspect and determine his identity. A SOCO team was also deployed to process the crime scene. Investigators said the motive behind the killing has yet to be established.

Authorities are continuing the investigation.