A mother and her son were killed in a broad daylight shooting along a barangay road in Sitio Nagbukel, Barangay San Antonio, Piddig, Ilocos Norte, on Sunday afternoon, 26 October 2025.
Police reports said personnel of the Piddig Municipal Police Station, led by Police Major Kristian Lee Badua, responded around 2:20 p.m. after receiving information about a shooting involving several individuals on board a blue Honda Wave Alpha motorcycle with a multipurpose sidecar.
Initial investigation revealed that the victims, identified as Maria Theresa Dansalan, 55, and her son Jasper Dansalan, 27, a pharmacist, both residents of Barangay Nalasin, Solsona, were riding with a farmer-driver and two minors when a lone gunman on a black Honda Beat motorcycle without a plate number approached from behind, ordered them to stop, and opened fire multiple times. The mother and son were killed instantly, while the driver and the two children escaped unharmed.
Responding officers on patrol in the area encountered the suspect, later identified as Rodel Donato, 37, a security guard and resident of Barangay Poblacion, La Paz, Abra, still holding a firearm. When police flagged him down and asked for documents covering the weapon, he failed to present any, prompting immediate arrest.
One of the survivors ran toward police and identified Donato as the gunman. Recovered from the scene were five fired cartridge cases and one slug from a .45 caliber firearm. Police also confiscated a .45 caliber pistol loaded with one live round and a magazine.
According to Major Badua, the shooting stemmed from a personal grudge. Investigation revealed that Donato was the former live-in partner of Maria Theresa’s daughter for nine years before they separated in June 2025. Donato allegedly could not accept that his former partner now has a new boyfriend reportedly close to the victims.
Police also learned that the victims had received prior death threats from Donato and were on their way to attend a family dinner when the shooting occurred.
The suspect is now in custody at the Piddig MPS for documentation and the filing of two counts of murder and violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.