By Zea Capistrano and Joseph Jubelag DAVAO CITY - A police officer died while being treated for his injuries, while eight other officers were wounded following an attack by suspected rebels in Magpet town, Cotabato, Monday. The Magpet Police said PO1 Christopher Anadon, a resident of Parang, Maguindanao sustained serious injuries, and was later declared dead on-arrival at hospital, after a convoy of two police vehicles were hit by two landmine explosions along the highway in Barangay Poblacion, Magpet town at around 5:45 p.m. Monday. The police report also said PO1 Stephenson Batoon Parreño, 27, was rushed to Kidapawan City with Anadon for medical treatment. Those who sustained minor injuries were SPO1 Michael Mariano G. Escaño, 42; PO2 Marinerl R. Pastores, 38; PO1 Eliezer D. Langcuban, 27; PO1 Darrell E. Ferolino, 26; PO1 Phil Jan Ray C. Canarejo, 27; PO1 Franz Deo A. Lechago, 25; and PO1 Mark Vincent Capilitan, 30. Capt. Teresita Cansancio, spokesperson of 4th Infantry Division, said the policemen who were assigned with the Provincial Police Mobile Force Company. Chief Insp. Rolando Dillera, Magpet police chief, said the police convoy was on its way home to their headquarters in Kidapawan City when the incident happened. Dillera said New People’s Army (NPA) rebels belonging to the Guerrilla Front 53, under an alias Commander Alon, as the culprits. The NPA has not yet issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. Cansancio said security forces have tracked down the perpetrators who withdrew towards Barangay Inac, Magpet. She said the landmine attacks could be a retaliatory offensive against government forces after an NPA member was killed while another was wounded during a fire fight with Army troops in Barangay Bagumbayan, Magpet last Sunday. (With a report from Armando Fenequito, Jr.)