Manila - A policeman was killed in an attack by suspected communist rebels in a southern Philippine city, a police report said Saturday. Senior Police Officer Rodrigo Barrientos, 52, was shot to death Friday by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in Tagum City in Davao Del Norte province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

The victim was on his way to work when the suspects fired at him. He died instantly from several gunshot wounds, the report said.

The suspects took his pistol before fleeing.

Investigators said the victim had received death threats from communist guerrillas for still unknown reasons.

Communist rebels have been fighting the government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.(dpa)