A 53-year-old businessman was shot dead in an ambush in Barangay Nalsian Sur, Bayambang, Pangasinan, in the early hours of Saturday, January 24, police said.

Authorities said the victim was inside his car and on his way to his driving school when two unidentified suspects opened fire. The attackers fled quickly on a motorcycle after the shooting.

The victim was hit in the right armpit and was rushed to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival, police said.

At the crime scene, investigators recovered five empty shells and one slug from a .45 caliber firearm, according to the Bayambang Police Station.

The victim’s sister, Anastashe Gamotea-Cervera, called for justice following the killing.

“Ang gusto ko lang, mahuli na iyong gumawa, kasi para mabigyan ng hustisya iyong kapatid ko,” she said.

Police said they are reviewing CCTV footage and conducting backtracking operations to identify the suspects and reconstruct the events leading to the shooting.

PLt. Col. Rommel Bagsic, chief of the Bayambang Police Station, said investigators are looking into a possible personal motive linked to the victim’s business dealings.

“Ang nakikita na po naming motibo dito ay personal, at may kinalaman sa kanyang negosyo,” he said.

Bagsic added that authorities have already identified a person of interest and several vehicles believed to be connected to the case.

“Meron na po kaming person of interest na sinusundan at nakita na po namin ang mga involved na sasakyan. Ongoing po request ng mga cross matching, sa forensic unit natin, sa Regional Anti–Cybercrime Unit kasi napakalaking bagay po ng cellphone na nakuha namin sa biktima,” he said.

Police said they are also gathering witness statements as the investigation continues.