3 shot dead for practicing witchcraft in south Philippines

For allegedly practicing witchcraft, a 64-year old man and two others were shot dead by suspected angry villagers in southern Philippines on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday.
The attack in a hinterland village in San Miguel town of Mindanao's Surigao del Sur province around 1 a.m. local time also wounded a 12-year-old girl, said Romaldo Bayting, spokesperson of Caraga regional police office.
Bayting said the assault occurred as couple Tranquilino Cinto, 64, and Lucena, 65, were asleep with two others inside the victims ' house at Carromata village.
"Suspects broke into the house and shot the 64-year old man using automatic pistols as well as the three victims...As per information from residents, the victims were allegedly into witchcraft, and this might have angered the assailants," said Bayting, adding an investigation into the incident was now being conducted.
Practice of the black arts are rare in predominantly Catholic nation, although pseudo-Christian and pagan rituals sometimes purported to be witchcraft are known to exist in hinterland communities.