TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines—A village chief was shot dead by an unidentified gunman Tuesday night during a wedding banquet in Barangay (village) Bauan East, Solana town, Cagayan, police said Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Moro Virgilio Lazo, Cagayan police director, said Nathaniel Dayag, chief of Barangay General Balao was having drinks with friend Fernando Sabban inside the latter’s house at 8 p.m. when the assailant sneaked inside and shot the victim twice in the head with a .45 cal. handgun.

The gunman escaped using a motorcycle, Lazo said.

Dayag died before reaching the St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City. Police are looking into politics as motive in the killing.