Supporter of suspended Abra vice gov gunned down in Bangued

INQUIRER FILES

BAGUIO CITY – A 63-year-old woman was declared dead on arrival at the hospital after being shot twice by an unidentified gunman on Wednesday morning (April 23) in Bangued, Abra.

The victim was identified as Nona Bigornia Castillo, a married, unemployed resident of Barangay Bañacao, Bangued.

According to the Bangued police, the shooting took place at 11:15 a.m. along the road in Sitio Calumbitin, Barangay San Antonio.

Responding officers reported that Castillo had already been rushed to the hospital when they arrived at the scene.

An eyewitness recounted that she was driving a tricycle when Castillo flagged her down and asked for a ride to Barangay Bañacao. While they were en route, a gunman approached from behind and shot Castillo twice before fleeing the scene.

Castillo sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Abra Provincial Hospital by the police, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the attack and working to identify the suspect.

In a social media post, suspended Vice Governor Joy Bernos expressed grief over Castillo’s death, describing her as a long-time supporter of her political party and the president of the farmers’ association in Barangay Bañacao.

“They targeted you, Nang Nona. How heartless of our opponents,” Bernos wrote in Ilokano. INQ