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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World

Police officer killed in Philippines after being slashed by rooster at illegal cockfight

A file picture of two roosters fighting in Venezuela (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

A police officer was killed by a rooster while breaking up an illegal cockfight in the Philippines.

Lieutenant Christian Bolok was struck by the bird’s gaff, the blade usually attached to the leg of fighting cockerels, which cut the officer's left thigh and slashed his femoral artery.

He was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The incident happened when the officer picked up one of the animals at the illegal fight in the province of Northern Samar on Monday.

A rooster is fitted with a razor sharp blade ahead of a cockfight in Manila (AFP via Getty Images)

Police chief Colonel Arnel Apud said that Lieutenant Bolok's death was "a piece of bad luck" that he could not explain.

"I could not believe it when it was first reported to me," he said.

"This is the first time in my 25 years as a policeman that I lost a man due to a fighting cock's spur."

Three people were arrested and three other suspects remain at large, the government news wire The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reports.

Seven fighting roosters, two sets of gaff and 550 Philippine Peso (£8.75) were confiscated.

Cockfighting has been banned during the coronavirus outbreak in Philippines.

The fights normally involve two roosters fighting to the death after their legs are fitted with a gaff, a razor sharp steel blade.

According to PNA, before the pandemic, cockfighting was only allowed in licensed cockpits on Sundays and legal holidays.

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