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.

• Party-list congressman killed in Albay

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.

• Dating alkalde ng bayan sa Bukidnon patay sa pamamaril sa Cagayan de Oro

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.

• Barangay chairman patay sa pananambang sa Batangas

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.

• Mayors and Vice Mayors killed under Duterte administration

--Reports from Thea Omelan, Vernie Damolo, and Henry Atuelan, ABS-CBN News