By Villamor Visaya Jr., Philippine News Agency Stringer and Philippine Daily Inquirer Correspondent

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines — The wife of a regional trial court judge here was shot dead at close range by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay San Felipe in this city in the afternoon of Wednesday, May 25, police said.

Investigators identified the victim as Agnes Cabauatan-Palce, 58, wife of Judge Ariel Palce of Cauayan Regional Trial Court Branch 40. She was also the internal audit department manager of Isabela Electric Cooperative 2.

Agnes was in the passenger’s seat of an Innova van and was on her way home to Tumauini when the assailants overtook them.

The back rider then shot her, hitting her right jaw, police said. The gunmen sped off after the shooting

Agnes was brought to the Isabela Doctors General Hospital where she was declared dead.

Police have yet to identify the killers and the motive behind the attack.#