MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A lone gunman shot and killed the town police chief of Malvar, in Batangas province early Wednesday morning, officials said.

Senior Inspector Ramonchito Chavez, 38, was gunned down at around 7:30 a.m. in Sambat village, Tanauan City after he brought his child to school, said Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, regional police chief for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).

Palad said Chavez was shot dead just a few meters from his house.

Senior Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, Batangas provincial police chief, said Chavez was rushed to the C. P. Reyes Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The victim sustained three gunshot wounds, he said.

In Camp Crame, police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina condemned Chavez’s death and said Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered an immediate probe into the incident.

Espina said police were looking at Chavez’s death as work-related because of his campaign to neutralize organized crime groups in Malvar.

Without providing additional details, Espina said that police have identified Chavez’s assailant, who was said to belong to a gun-for-hire syndicate.