Cop gunned down at home in North Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines—Suspected communist rebels attacked a house owned by a policeman in Antipas, North Cotabato, and killed him in the process, the authorities reported Saturday.

Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, North Cotabato police chief, said in a radio interview that the  wife of Senior Police Officer 2 Vic Matias,  Elly, and a relative, Antonio Celestial, were  wounded in the attack, which occurred  around 6:40 p.m. Friday.

Salinas said Matias, who belonged to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, died instantly while his wife and Celestial were rushed to a hospital with gunshot wounds.

The three were having a conversation when an undetermined number of New People’s Army rebels arrived and opened fire, he said.

“A follow up operation by the police led to the arrest of one of the suspects,” he said, adding the suspect was still being interrogated.