Shooting rampage leaves eight dead

A pregnant woman, her three-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old girl were among the victims.

Gunman Ronald Bae, who was reported to have taken drugs and been drinking heavily, began firing with a semi-automatic .45 pistol at 9.30am today morning.

He reportedly gunned down several neighbours then walked to a local market where he shot more people before going home.

Mr Bae was killed by police in a shootout following the rampage in Kawit township.

The mother of the unidentified pregnant woman said her daughter had made a frantic call prior to her death.

"She said: 'Please don't! Please don't!'," Baby Alberto told Philippines TV.

Ms Alberto added that her daughter had been found dead hugging her three-year-old girl, who also died.

Uncle Edwin Lacorte said he could hear their screams from his nearby home.

"I could not do anything," he said. "I heard the shots."

Mr Lacorte fled with his wife and their four children, two grandchildren and three nieces.

"He was shooting at us as we were running," he said.

Witnesses said Mr Bae's caretaker John Paul helped to reload the pistol.

Local Governor Juanito Victor Remulla said a 100,000 peso (£1,500) reward has been posted for information leading to Mr Paul's capture.

He added that the bloodshed may have been avoided if police had acted on earlier complaints from residents that Mr Bae fired his gun indiscriminately on New Year's Eve and January 2.

Police estimate there are about half-a-million firearms that are either unlicensed or have expired licences around the country.