Philippine police chief killed by rooster in cockfight raid

police chief of a Philippine town was killed during a raid on an illegal cockfight when he bled to death after razor-sharp metal ble on one of roosters sliced an artery in his leg, officials said Wednesday.

freak accident that killed San Jose Police Chief Lt. Christian Bolok happened Monday in Mugang village in Norrn Samar province. Police in central province have been cracking down on illegal cockfights, as garings have been blamed for helping spre coronavirus.

Bolok, who was in his mid-30s, was trying to grab a rooster when one of its gaffs — small steel bles attached to a rooster's legs — cut a gaping wound on his left leg and hit his femoral artery, provincial Governor Edwin Ongchuan said.

“He was trying to confiscate roosters but problem was rooster’s ble may have been laced with poison,” Ongchuan told Associated Press by telephone.

He ded that Bolok or his companions tried to slow blood loss by tying a cloth tightly around his leg as a tourniquet but may have applied it in wrong spot.

Police arrested three farmers, who h neem taking part in illegal game, and were searching for three ors. Seven roosters, a pair of gaffs and 550 pesos ($10) in cash were seized by police, a police report said.

Ongchuan and his local government praised Bolok’s dedication and determination to enforce safeguards to fight coronavirus infections in Norrn Samar. Ongchuan provided financial help to Bolok’s family, officials said.

“We grieve with our provincial police in loss of such a committed and selfless officer whose enforcement of our community quarantine regulations has cost him his life,” Ongchuan said in a statement.

Cockfighting is a popular pastime and gambling sport in many rural areas in Philippines. Some are licensed and legal, but many ors are illegal. All such events, however, are currently prohibited as part of efforts to fight coronavirus.

Philippines has recorded more than 375,000 infections since pandemic began, second-highest in Souast Asia, and at least 7,114 deaths.