BUTUAN CITY, Philippines—A village councilor of San Miguel, Surigao del Norte was gunned down by a lone assailant near his house Sunday night, the police said.

Chief Inspector Nelly Villagarcia, spokesperson of the Caraga regional police said Valentine Campos, was talking with supporters outside his house in Barangay Poblacion around 6 p.m. when a gunman suddenly drew his pistol and fired shots at the victim.

Campos died instantaneously from several gunshot wounds in the head.

Villagarcia said the police are eyeing politics as possible motive in the killing.

“Since the killing happened during election period, we are not discounting that it is election related,” she told the Inquirer.