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The Philippine National Police is putting priority on solving and preventing attacks against local officials, including the fatal shooting of Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili in broad daylight, its spokesperson said Tuesday.

Halili was at a flag ceremony on Monday when he was shot from afar by an unidentified gunman, who managed to escape.

• Caught on camera: Moments after Batangas town mayor gunned down

On the same day, an ARMM assemblyman survived an ambush attempt in Davao City while a retired government prosecutor and his wife were shot dead in Cebu City. A newly-elected barangay chairman in Mindoro, meanwhile, was gunned down Tuesday morning by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

"Ang mga pangyayaring ito, pagpaslang sa mayor, mga barangay captain, ito ay tinitingnan, palaging prayoridad ng ating pamunuan sa Philippine National Police," Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, Jr. told radio DZMM.

Senator Panfilo Lacson has urged police to tighten gun control while some opposition lawmakers blamed President Rodrigo Duterte for the string of killings.

The PNP is continuously tweaking its game plan against crime, said Durana.

"Ang Philippine National Police talaga pong nakikinig sa lahat ng mga suhestyon, kahit na po batikos, tinitingnan po natin iyan at patuloy po natin tini-tweak, inaayos ang ating iba't ibang stratehiya laban po sa kriminalidad, lalong-lalo na po sa ilegal na droga," PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, Jr. told radio DZMM.

(The Philippine National Police is listening to all suggestions, even the criticisms, we are looking at all of that. We are continuously tweaking, improving our various strategies against criminality, especially against illegal drugs.)

Police regional commanders will tackle the series of deadly attacks in a command conference on Wednesday, said Durana.

The Calabarzon police, meanwhile, has created a special investigation task group that will focus on Halili's killing, he noted.

DZMM, 3 July 2018