Police intelligence officer killed in North Cotabato town

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines — Gunmen shot dead Monday a police intelligence officer who was actively involved in the government’s anti-narcotics campaign in M'lang town in North Cotabato.

PO3 Lovel Tan was attacked by two men armed with .45 caliber pistols while inside a rented house in M'lang town in North Cotabato. They escaped using a motorcycle parked nearby.

Constantino Dianzon, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, told reporters responding investigators recovered from the scene spent bullet shells fired by the gunmen.

He said Tan died instantly from gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.

Dianzon said Tan was a hardworking police officer who was involved in covert missions that resulted in the arrest of local drug traffickers.

Tan’s companions in the M'lang municipal police have enlisted the help of barangay officials in identifying his killers.