Gunmen shot dead the provincial election officer of Isabela Province Saturday morning in Tumaini town, the second violent incident that befell their family as his half-brother who is also a poll official in La Union suffered the same fate three years ago.

Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, director of the Cagayan Valley Police, said the assassination of lawyer Michael Valdez appeared to be well-planned since the two gunmen and another cohort checked in at the Country State Hotel in Barangay 4, Tumaini town in Isabela three days before he was shot dead in the same area at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

“Initial investigation disclosed that the suspects lodged at the said hotel for three days. Per account of the witnesses, the two suspects would leave the place in day time and would only stay there at night time,” said Damian.

Police believe the gunmen were putting the victim under surveillance and when they chanced upon him Saturday morning in the area, they shot Valdez using .45 pistols.

Damian said Valdez was declared dead on arrival at the Tumaini District Hospital.