Jolito Jakosalim Talaid, former mayor of Kadingilan town, Bukidnon, was shot dead on this spot at a fruit market in Cagayan de Oro City, Saturday morning. Vernie Damolo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - Three politicians- two incumbents and one former official- were shot dead just hours apart Saturday, the weekend before Christmas, in the latest spate of killings in the country.
Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe was gunned down during a "gift-giving activity" in Daraga, Albay on Saturday afternoon.
Jolito Jakosalim Talaid, former mayor of Kadingilan town in Bukidnon, was about to board his car when he was ambushed in Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Panganiban, barangay chairman of Panghayaan in Taysan town, Batangas, was gunned down by three assailants in his garage at around 7 a.m.
Assailants in the separate killings have yet to be identified as investigation is still underway.
The killings happened amid the Christmas rush, just as police intensified security across the country with the peak of travel and merriment.
Several local officials have been killed in gun attacks this year, including mayors and vice mayors tagged in the narcotics trade.
--Reports from Thea Omelan, Vernie Damolo, and Henry Atuelan, ABS-CBN News
Rodel Batocabe, Jolito Talaid, Eduardo Panganiban, Albay, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Batangas,