A Philippines lawmaker and his police escort were shot dead on Saturday while attending a gift-giving event for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in the country's Albay province.

The police said 52-year-old Rodel Batocabe, a member of the Philippines House of Representatives, and his security escort were gunned down in the afternoon at the covered court of Burgos in the south of Manila. They were taken to hospital but declared dead on arrival.