By Sarwell Meniano

UNPROVOKED ATTACK. The police station in Jipapad, Eastern Samar and its personnel in this undated photo. The provincial police condemned the stabbing and hacking incident inside the police station that seriously injured the town chief of police in Jipapad, Eastern Samar on Tuesday (Sept. 24, 2024). (Photo courtesy of Jipapad police)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office (ESPPO) has condemned the stabbing and hacking incident inside a police station that seriously injured the chief of police in Jipapad town, Eastern Samar province on Tuesday.

ESPPO Director Col. Ernesto Macasil said in a statement Wednesday that they were saddened that a civilian assaulted a police officer for an unknown reason.

Before noon on Tuesday, alias Arye, a 37-year-old farmer, suddenly stabbed and hacked Lt. Norben Carbonera who was sitting down at the police station lobby.

The assault prompted a police officer present to shoot and kill the attacker, “preventing further harm” to the town’s police chief.

“The Eastern Samar police provincial office strongly condemns this violent and unprovoked attack on one of our personnel. Nevertheless, we consider this incident an isolated case and are actively taking steps to address the situation,” Macasil stated.

The incident is under investigation to establish a complete and accurate understanding of the circumstances that led to the attack, he added.

Both the victim and suspect were rushed to the Jipapad rural health unit.

Carbonera is recovering at the Catarman Doctors Hospital in Northern Samar while the attacker was declared dead on arrival.

Jipapad, a fifth-class town in Eastern Samar, is located near the border of Northern Samar province. (PNA)