?MANILA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called for an end to violence in the wake of the killing of another local politician on Saturday.
Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan of Trece Martires City in Cavite province, south of Manila, was shot dead on Saturday afternoon while aboard his car.
"We strongly condemn the ambush (of Lubigan)," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement a few hours after the assassination of the vice mayor.
Lubigan is the third local government official killed this week.
Mayor Antonio Halili, 72, of Tanauan town in Batangas province was assassinated on Monday as he presided over the flag ceremony on the ground of the city hall.
A day after Halili was gunned down, Mayor Ferdinand Bote, 57, of General Tinio town in Nueva Ecija province was also shot dead in Cabanatuan City in the province.
"We ask the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a fair and through investigation and spare no efforts in getting to the bottom of this latest crime," Roque said.
"We must band together and put an end to the worrisome incidents of violence involving local politicians," he added.