MANILA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified men shot dead a town mayor on Wednesday in his office building in central Philippines, police said.

Police identified the victim as Mariano Blanco, mayor of Ronda town about 82 kms southwest of Cebu City in central Philippines. He was gunned down around 1:30 a.m. local time early on Wednesday while asleep in his office at the municipal hall, police said.

Before the shooting, the hall's watchmen told police investigators that four gunmen aboard a white van broke into his office and shot him.

The watchmen added that the gunmen ordered them to drop on the ground before breaking into the mayor's office, police said.

Police said they have yet to identify the suspects and are investigating the cause of the shooting.

Blanco is one of the local officials that President Rodrigo Duterte accused of involvement in illegal drug activities.

Seven months ago, Blanco's nephew, Ronda Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab, was also gunned down outside Cebu City's courthouse.