By Freddie Lazaro  BANGUED, Abra - Three men described by police as hitmen linked to a political figure in Abra were killed in a shootout with a police patrol early dawn Thursday. Police said Ariel Isao, Michael Gonzales, and a certain Glen were riding a tricycle when they were flagged down at a checkpoint in Barangay Anggad manned by a team from the 1504th Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 led by Capt. Daryl Garro. Instead of stopping, the motorcycle sped away and the officers gave chase. The three fired at their pursuers and a shootout erupted. All the suspects were killed, police said. The three were reportedly hired by a former town mayor from a political family in the province during the May elections, but had since gone on their own as contract killers. Thursday’s incident has done nothing to shed off Abra’s reputation for gun-related violence. Last Tuesday, a 36-year-old tricycle driver was gunned down by a still unknown assailant in Barangay Palao, also in Bangued. Warren Bargas was ferrying his passenger when the killer opened fire at him. Bargas died while being brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital. His passenger was unhurt. Early Wednesday morning, a farmer shot his village mate after a quarrel over a dice game during a wake. John Apolinar Alcos, 41, from Barangay Sulbec, Pidigan and Ramil Bringas, from Poblacion West, also in Pidigan, were playing dice when they got into a heated argument. Bringas drew a .45 caliber pistol from his waist, fired at Alcos, then fled on foot. The bullet missed Alcos, who was fast enough to duck. Policemen recovered a .45 caliber slug at the shooting scene.