MANILA, Philippines -- A village chief was shot dead by suspected rivals outside his home in the province of Ilocos Sur Thursday, a police official said on Friday.

Romeo Tisbe, village chief of Barangay (village) Salumague was killed by still unidentified men outside his home at 12:45 a.m. at the height of the New Year’s celebrations, said Senior Superintendent Virgilio Fabros, Ilocos Sur provincial police chief.

Fabros said Tisbe went outside his home to relieve himself when he was suddenly approached by the suspects and was shot at close range.

Tisbe was rushed to the Suero General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival, Fabros said.

Recovered from the crime scene were 10 empty shells of a 9-millimeter pistol.

Fabros said he was now pushing for a peace dialogue between warring political groups in the area. He added that police were looking at politics as the motive for the killing of Tisbe.

Fabros said one obstacle police encountered in their investigation was the lack of complainants that would help police solve the case.