Surigao town cop chief slain in clash with NPA

Anthony Vargas

MANILA, Philippines – The chief of police of a town in Surigao del Sur was killed in a clash with communist rebels early Saturday afternoon.

A report from the National Operations Center of the Philippine National Police said Inspector Christopher Mazo, chief of police of Lianga town, was shot in the head and was declared dead on arrival at the town hospital.

The encounter happened around 1 p.m. at Kilometer 22, Barangay Danao as a joint police and Army team was on its way back from escorting personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who were inventorying seized logs.

The clash happened hours after New People’s Army guerrillas ambushed and killed eight policemen, including the deputy chief, in Catarman, Samar.