Rebels ambush guards of US mining firm

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  – New People’s Army rebels ambushed the security guards of a mining firm in Pantukan, Compostela Valley yesterday morning killing one guard while another one is reportedly missing.

Major Jake Obligado, commander of the Philippine Army’s 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion, said the communist rebels attacked the mine site of St. Augustine Copper and Gold in Sitio Maplog, Barangay Kingking around seven in the morning of May 12. Initial reports said that one security guard was killed and one missing,” Obligado said.

The missing guard was however found later. The guard allegedly fell into a cliff when he took cover during the ambush. He was unharmed.

In a statement, St. Augustine Copper and Gold said a small group of armed individuals stopped their environmental crew and their escorts and demanded to surrender their weapons and equipment.

“One security guard was shot and killed during the incident, which took place several kilometers away from the operational work area. The rest of the crew and security detail is safe and accounted for,” stated the US mining firm. –Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star)