By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A barangay tanod from Barangay Odiong, Moises Padilla is currently being treated after he was shot by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Good Friday.

Police identified the victim as 44-year-old Dave Vallente.

Moises Padilla municipal police said, around 7:40 p.m., Vallente was in the terrace of his house when he was suddenly gunned down by four unidentified suspects.

Vallente crawled back inside his home to retrieve his firearm and shot back at the suspects, who immediately fled.

Vallente was rushed to the Isabela District Hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to his legs.

Moises Padilla municipal police have yet to confirm if the NPA was involved in the incident, although Vallente told them, prior to the shooting, the suspects shouted saying “We are the NPA! Get down!”/DGB, WDJ