A cop was killed in a shooting incident perpetrated by unknown assailants in Mandaon town in Masbate, police said Friday.
'Senior Police Officer 1 Zandro Cabintoy, public information officer of the Masbate provincial police, said in a report that PO2 Gerson Pinat Jr., 37, of Barangay Pating, Masbate City, was shot by armed suspects riding a motorcycle in Barangay Poblacion at around 8:10 p.m. on Thursday.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victim, detailed in Mandaon Municipal station, was shot while on his way home.

Recovered from the crime scene was a piece of placard printed with words “Pusher na pulis ako! Protektor ng mga pusher, wag tularan. Bicol death squad” (I am a drug pusher policeman. I am a protector of pushers, do not emulate. Bicol death squad) more or less ten meters away from the victim's body