Inspector Teddy Rosqueta, Bacarra police chief, said the victim, identified as Susan Afaga-Agnes, was declared dead on arrival at the Gov. Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital here. She died of bullet wounds in the back and head.

The victim, who arrived a week ago with her family from Hawaii for a vacation here, was shot at close range inside a car driven by Roger Maruquin, Rosqueta said.

The car was slowly approaching a narrow bridge at about 6 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Cabaruan when the assailants, who positioned themselves on the roadside, fired five times at the car.

The victim’s companions in the car — her teenage daughter Charmaine, nephew Erdio Ballesterous, and driver Maruquin — emerged unscathed.

The victim went to Bacarra town to visit her relatives.

Her group was returning to Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, her husband’s hometown, when they were waylaid, police said.

Investigators said they were looking into two angles — land dispute and personal grudge.

The victim’s husband had survived a similar ambush in Sarrat last year, Roqueta told reporters.