Two men were killed in an ambush-style shooting along the national highway in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, as police launch an in-depth investigation to identify the suspects, the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) said.

Ilocos Norte police director Police Colonel Joemar Q. Labiano—said they are conducting a thorough investigation into the February 25 shooting to determine the gunmen’s identities and motive. 

Based on the investigation of the Badoc Municipal Police Station, the victims, identified as Erwin Domingo Rondal, 60, married, and a resident of Napu, Badoc, and James Fernandez, 41, a farmer and resident of Bulbulala, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, were traveling north onboard a Toyota Veloz. Upon reaching Barangay Paltit, particularly at a sharp curve along the national highway, unidentified assailants aboard a white Toyota Innova and a black pickup allegedly opened fire several times at their vehicle.

The victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were immediately rushed by personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Rural Health Unit of Badoc to Corpuz Clinic and Hospital in Sinait, Ilocos Sur. They were later transferred to Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Responding operatives initially recovered from the victims’ vehicle one caliber 9mm pistol with a magazine loaded with live ammunition and another firearm of undetermined caliber, also with a magazine containing live rounds. Badoc police also sought the assistance of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Forensic Unit to process the crime scene, where investigators recovered one Colt 5.56 Armalite rifle with an inserted magazine loaded with 12 pieces of 5.56 live ammunition and two pieces of 9mm cartridge cases inside the vehicle.

Other items recovered at the scene included one piece of caliber .45 cartridge case, 31 fired cartridge cases of caliber .45, 17 fired cartridge cases of caliber .30 carbine, and four deformed fired bullets, indicating the use of multiple high-powered firearms.