© Associated PressPolice mark the crime scene with a yellow tape where two Chinese diplomats were killed in Cebu, central Philippines, October 21, 2015.
According to police, the deadly attack was carried out at about 1:30 p.m. local time (0530 GMT) Wednesday at a popular restaurant in the trading capital of central Philippines.
The restaurant workers said nine people were in a private room to celebrate the birthday of China's consul general to Cebu, Song Ronghua, who was shot in the neck and taken to a hospital. He is said to be in stable conditions.
"The bullet went clear through (his neck)," said regional police chief, Tom Banas, adding, "We're still trying to determine the motive for the shooting."
The dead staff members are identified as Sun Shan, the deputy consul general, and Hui Li, a finance officer.
Following the shooting attack, police arrested two other Chinese who had been present at the lunch, as well as a consular officer and her husband, on suspicion of involvement in the assault, Banas said, adding that the couple has not cooperated with police, claiming that they are not able to speak English.
A semi-automatic 45 Colt pistol and three bullet shells have been found at the scene of the crime.
China's embassy in the capital, Manila, has refrained from commenting on the incident with a spokeswoman saying that the mission "is still verifying the facts."
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