Three men were killed while seven persons were injured in a riot inside a cockpit in Sitio Tabalugo, Barangay Budlasan, Canlaon City Negros Oriental at past 3 p.m. on Friday.
Initial police investigation showed that there were two groups involved in the riot.
The identified casualties include Elmer Patiña and Glenn Galvan, who were group leaders, and a certain Victor Bravo who did not belong to any of the groups involved.
Chief Insp. Wilfredo Alarcon, chief of Canlaon police, told Cebu Daily News that Galvan and Patiña had strained relations prior to the incident.
Both Galvan and Patiña were also intoxicated from a drinking spree when they came to the cockpit.
Alarcon added that they are also looking into politics as the motive of killing Patiña.
Patiña was an incumbent village councilman in the barangay who reportedly planned to run as barangay captain in the next elections.