Bernos, 31, was the youngest mayor of this province and aligned with the opposition.

Investigation showed that at 7 p.m. Friday, the mayor, together with his two police escorts, were watching a basketball tournament in an open court when the assailant sneaked past behind them and shot the mayor in the head at close range.

Bernos had organized the basketball competition for the town fiesta on Jan. 24.

Police said they are eyeing several angles in their investigation but have ruled out politics as the motive.

Sources attributed the assassination to the New People’s Army (NPA) as they linked the incident to alleged atrocities committed by the victim’s family against the family of rebel commander Procopio Tauro, who also hails from La Paz.

They also said the manner of Bernos’s assassination was similar to that used by NPA hitmen in liquidating their targets, especially in urban areas.

Abra Governor Vicente P. Valera condemned the killing of Mayor Bernos as he expressed his condolences to the victim’s family.

"I ask the full cooperation of everybody, especially those who have witnessed the incident. Tell all what you know and what you have seen to our police investigators. This way, this murder case will be resolved fast," Valera said.

Valera also ordered the police here to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and immediately bring the perpetrators to justice.

Police said that based on witnesses’ accounts, Bernos was sitting on a cement bench with his back against a dark area of the basketball court with his security escorts around him. As one of the bodyguards was busy using his cellphone and the other was intently watching the game, the attacker shot the mayor in the head at close range with a .45 caliber pistol.

Bernos was rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Provincial health officer Leona Beroña said that her examination of the body showed that a single bullet "entered at the back of the head, the slug exploded inside and hit the brainstem."

"We tried our best to resuscitate him but our efforts were futile," she said.

The murder of Bernos prompted PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao to fly to Abra over the weekend to oversee the investigation.

Last year, the DILG directed the PNP to relieve all police personnel because of their failure to maintain peace and order in the province.

Last week, Secretary Reyes visited Abra and was informed by the mayors that the peace and order situation in the province has greatly improved.