SIBAGAT – A police officer was killed when unidentified armed men attacked a patrol base of the Agusan del Sur Provincial Public Safety Company along the national highway in Barangay Tabon-tabon, Sibagat town on Tuesday morning.

Killed in the attack was PO1 Sharmaine Cañete, 23-years old. Cañete was manning the road checkpoint when the incident happened at 4:45 a.m.

He was hit in the head and body and was declared dead on arrival at the Butuan City Medical Center.

The attack happened less than 24 hours after the release of Carzon Ceasar Lademora, a businessman who was abducted in Rosario town on Saturday.

Investigators recovered several bullet slugs in the area.

Police Senior Superintendent Joseph Plaza, head of Agusan del Sur police provincial office, believes that New People’s Army rebels were behind the attack.

The communist rebels have yet to say if they were behind the attack.