Two barangay tanods (watchmen) were injured in a shootout in the barangay hall of Poblacion, Pilar, Abra on Sunday night, Dec. 22.
Police identified the victims as Romel Reyes and Denver Cayetano.
Investigation said Reyes and Cayetano were drinking in the barangay hall when a heated argument erupted allegedly over a woman they were courting.
Cayetano drew a gun and shot Reyes who was also reportedly armed and returned fire. A colleague, Alvin Apolonio, 38, who sitting on a chair, was hit by a stray bullet.
Cayetano and Reyes sustained bullet wounds in the stomach and taken to the hospital where they are recuperating.
Apolonio was also taken to the hospital and was discharged after treatment.
Police recovered empty .45 caliber shells in the crime scene but no gun was recovered.
Pilar Mayor Tyron R. Beronia said Reyes and Cayetano are under investigation to determine any administrative liability.
Beronia said the incident is not related to politics and was a result of a reported love triangle.
He said that initial investigation showed that witnesses only saw Cayetano with a gun.
Police are conducting follow-up investigation.
Pilar is a landlocked municipality and bounded by the towns of Nagbukel, Narvacan, Santa Maria, Santa Maria and San Emilio in Ilocos Sur and Villaviciosa in Abra.