Aside from two possible motives, an investigation conducted by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) rendered that the slay of a barangay chairwoman and her husband in Dueñas, Iloilo could be related to a land dispute. 

“Noong nakalipas na mga taon, may hindi pagkaka-intindihan sa property [Reporter's question to Major Araño: Ang party mismo ni Kap [Michelle] ang involved, sir?] Yan ang natanggap natin na information which is subject for verification pa,” Police Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, said. 

The authorities believe that the assailants were hired gunmen.

Based on the demeanor of the persons who attacked the barangay chairwoman and her husband, they are most likely “gun-for-hire,” according to IPPO.

Michelle Lamela, barangay chairwoman of Santo Niño in Dueñas town, along with her husband, Radnie, were slain by riding-in-tandem men in Barangay Tinocuan on December 5, 2024.

In a screenshot of the CCTV footage shown by the police, the perpetrators were  on board a motorcycle. The driver and the gunman donned black long sleeves. The gunman was wearing short pants, while the driver was in long pants.

“Kung titingnan natin ang kanilang manner at ang execution nila during the incident, especially sa pagbaril. So ang manner nila is makita natin na alam nila kung paano gawin ang plano. At isa pang nakita natin is planned ito,” Major Araño.

The authorities first looked into the angle that the incident could be politically motivated as Lamela is an incumbent punong barangay. However, when it was established that her husband was peppered by gunshots, it was determined that he could possibly be the target.

Police surmised that persons who could be harboring a grudge against Radnie would want to get even. 

It was learned that Radnie was implicated in the slay of a person in their barangay in 2008.

In the past days, the IPPO, CIDG, and other police units conducted operations against unlicensed, undocumented, and loose firearms.

Araño said it is highly possible that the gun used by the perpetrators is acquired illegally.

“Nakita natin na mga loose firearms ito or mga unlicensed dahil wala namang criminal na gagamit ng lisensyadong baril knowing na alam niyang ma-trace ang baril just in case,” Araño emphasized.