Riding-in-tandem assassins kill Ilocos Norte villager

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Riding-in-tandem assassins shot dead on Monday afternoon a 53-year-old villager in remote Banna town in Ilocos Norte.

James Gapar was reportedly sitting along the national highway in Barangay Caribquib when the assassins stopped, the gunman unloaded from the motorcycle  and pumped bullets into him.

A caliber 45 pistol was used in the killing, police said after finding several shells of the said firearm in the crime scene.

Until now, investigators face a blank wall as to what prompted the killing, but initially are theorizing that it maybe related with Gaspar being a brother-in-law of Barangay Chairman Alfred Arce of Fortuna, Marcos. Arce's house was raided recently for chemicals used in making explosives.