Three others were wounded.
Pampanga Police Office director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Recomono identified the fatalities as Reymart Lampasa and Nelson Soriano, both 17 years-old; Jerry Calma and Ronald Allan Lumbang, both 23, all residents of the place of incident.
Those injured were identified as Billy Pineda, 24, Aljon Lumbang, 19, and Aljon Manlapat, 20. Police said they were brought to different hospitals in Pampanga.
According to initial police reports, the victims were in the midst of a drinking session when unidentified suspects strafed them past 8 p.m. Recomono said investigation to determine the motive behind the incident and identify the suspect is in progress.
“We would like to know if any of the victims was a particular target, as it appears that some were just collateral damage,” Recomono said.
Several spent shells for different type of firearms were recovered at the crime scene by investigators.
Police insiders said they are also looking into “political angles” with reports that the were “staunch supporters” of former Arayat Mayor Chito Espino who is gearing for a comeback in next year’s polls.
Recomono said Arayat town is among municipalities under tight watch during elections due to its history of political violence.
