BAYOMBONG: The head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in northern Isabela province was shot dead by still unidentified armed men right inside his hotel compound early morning yesterday.

Reports said that lawyer Michael Valdez, 37, Isabela election supervisor, had succumbed to bullet wounds while he was being rushed to a local government district hospital in northern Tumauini town where he was gunned down around 5:45am.

“(Atty. Valdez) was immediately brought to the community hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician,” said Cagayan Valley police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, quoting initial reports from the field. Further, in a report, Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer called on Isabela authorities for the immediate solution of the gruesome killing of Valdez, whom he described as a good fellow and efficient, dedicated and veteran election officer.

“In behalf of the Comelec we vehemently condemn what was done to our faithful field official in Isabela. I cannot see any reason why he has to be terminated that way,” the Comelec official said.

Valdez was shot by two armed men, who earlier posed as hotel guests, inside his own Country Hotel State Inn, in Barangay 4, some 500 metres from the national highway. The victim was reportedly attending his weekend garden chores at the hotel’s driveway when the suspects, who emerged from one of the hotel rooms, about five metres away from the garden section, went to him from behind and shot him.