CAVITE, Philippines - Three men were shot dead by security guards while hunting for spiders in a vacant lot in Silang town, Cavite province on Wednesday night.

Police identified the fatalities as Francisco Buergo, 36; Crispin Hubilla, 32; and Christian Salvador, 24, residents of Barangay San Gabriel, Area K, General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

Senior Police Officer 2 Danilo Bago, investigator of the Dasmariñas Police Station, said security guards fired at the 3 victims and another companion, 32-year-old Jose Padaong, while they were hunting for spiders in a vacant lot owned by Tricom Development Corporation in Barangay Maguyam, Silang town around 10 p.m..

Bago said the 3 victims died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds. Padaong was critically injured.

Crime scene investigators recovered a spent shell from a Carbine pistol, 2 spent shells from a .45 pistol and 7 empty shells for an M14 rifle.

Police said manhunt operations have been launched against 11 security guards of the Dasmariñas Security Service Inc.

The security guards were identified as Edwin Arcero, Padis MC, Paglinawan AZ, Oscar Albasan, Nepthalie Miranda, Pastor Medina, Geronimo Vertudez, Amistoso Benedicto, Renato Cuaterno, Victor Timtiman and Manny Tabago.